Craig Bellamy flips off Cameron Smith as the Storm star passes his try scoring record

Cameron Smith has some of the NRL’s biggest records but his latest try led to the biggest celebration and his coach’s hilarious response.

Craig Bellamy wasn't thrilled by the performance.

A cranky Craig Bellamy has been at his animated best in the Melbourne Storm’s 50-22 win over the Wests Tigers but he’s delivered a hilarious message to Cameron Smith.

In the 71st minute, Smith scored his second try of the season when the Tigers’ Luciano Leilua performed a professional foul by knocking the ball out of the play the ball with the crafty Smith toeing the ball forward to score a try.

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It was an odd try but one that led to a big reaction as Smith’s teammates engulfed him as they pointed to the coaches box, with Bellamy flipping the bird right back at his team.

It was because Smith’s try was the 47th of his career, one more than Bellamy’s 46.

It was a funny moment that left the commentators confused.

“What’s going on?” Warren Smith laughed. “That has to be their bet. Craig Bellamy has given his captain the bird. I have seen it all.”

It was quickly realised the mark was passed, which led to the big reaction from both the players and the coach.

“That is exactly right there has been a bet going on with these two all season and Cameron Smith got denied last week,” Corey Parker added.

“This time he gets it and the old GOAT looks up to the coach and says ‘get that into ya, I have just passed ya’.”

Has a coach ever flipped his captain the bird in pro sports?! 😂😂😂
Love this from Bellamy when Smith passed him for career tries. GLORIOUS.#NRLStormTigers pic.twitter.com/pUaWqjcpKf

— Hayley Wildes (@wildes_hayley) September 19, 2020

Bellamy is all of us in 2020 #NRLStormTigers @storm pic.twitter.com/zvx8WH6zqF

— Georgie Tunny (@georgie_tunny) September 19, 2020

Listening to Smith v Bellamy on the drive home. Sounded like I was listening to 12th man commentary with Bellamy flipping his captain the bird from the coach’s box. #NRLStormTigers

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) September 19, 2020

Bellamy joked that he thought Smith had knocked it on and “to any one who takes offence to that, I’m sorry”.

He also said that “the only thing I can feel ok about is that it took him 428 games to get there, I got mine in 140 or so”.

Craig Bellamy flips the bird

But Bellamy had spent most of the night furious at his charges in a clear indication of why the Storm have been so good for so long – Bellamy expects perfection.

A favourite of broadcasters showing his frequent explosions in the coaches box, Bellamy was at his animated best in the first half of the match against the Wests Tigers.

Despite six first half tries for his team, who lead 32-10 at the halftime break, Bellamy wasn‘t happy with his side’s performance.

But the true indication of how hard a taskmaster Bellamy is, his first eruption came after the first try of the night just four minutes in.

Suliasi Vunivalu was easily first to a third tackle kick behind the line to open the scoring, but Bellamy was furious while talking to his assistants.

Vunivalu had the tiniest bobble in catching the ball before regathering and grounding it for the first try.

“Look at Bellamy, he‘s not happy, they’ve just scored a try and he’s filthy at Vunivalu. I mean he still caught it.”

Warren Smith added: “Honestly that‘s all it could be, the little bobble from Suliasi Vunivalu and old Vesuvius Bellamy has exploded.”

“It‘s 4-0, their first attacking set of the game, they’ve scored a try and Bellamy’s throwing water bottles,” Anasta said.

Bellamy was cranky throughout the first half with the commentators even calling from “Craig Cam” with his explosions being so frequent.

However, it works for the Storm with the side one of the dominant forces in the NRL for nearing two decades under the coach.

Cameron Smith lightened his coach’s mood.

With a man advantage just before halftime after a Luke Garner professional foul, the Storm could only crack the Tigers once with a long distance score for Josh Addo-Carr just before halftime.

But Bellamy‘s famous anger came out again when an attacking raid ended with a horrible pass in a scrambling effort.

“That was s***,” Bellamy clearly said in the box, to which the commentators confirmed.

Braith Anasta laughed: “That was … yes”.

“P-double O-P,” Warren Smith confirmed.

Again it‘s the standard that has made Melbourne the benchmark.

But Bellamy would have been far from happy when the Tigers started a comeback of sorts in the second half, cutting the deficit to 10 points through tries to Asu Kepaoa and Adam Doueihi.

In his post-match press conference, Bellamy labelled the defence as “pretty ordinary on a few occasions” and the second half as “all over the place”.

A serious injury to Josh Aloiai appeared to end the Tigers‘ momentum with Melbourne replying through Justin Olam to reinstate a 38-22 lead with 20 minutes remaining.