Bellamy speech that inspired NRL champion Cameron Smith

Melbourne captain Cameron Smith celebrated another premiership after some inspirational words from coach Craig Bellamy on the eve of the grand final.

Storm skipper Cameron Smith flies home with the Provan-Summons Trophy

Every Melbourne Storm player was given a letter at the traditional jersey presentation on the eve of Sunday night’s grand final.

In Cameron Smith’s case, it came from an unexpected source and further cemented the most enduring player-coach relationship in the game.

The players had been asked to identify someone who they wished was at the grand final but was unable to attend. Dale Finucane chose his cousin Michael. Felise Kaufusi received a three-page missive from members of his family.

Justin Olam’s words of encouragement and inspiration arrived from a long-time friend from Papua New Guinea. Ryan Papenhuyzen chose Storm legend Billy Slater.

Smith opted out, fearing he would be overcome by emotion.

Into the breach stepped coach Craig Bellamy, providing an insight into the unique relationship between the game’s best player and its greatest coach.

They were words Bellamy had penned for a piece that would be shown on the Nine Network before the game. Smith got a hard copy of them early, head of football Frank Ponissi ensuring the captain wouldn’t be left wondering what he meant to the club and his coach.

“You are playing your 430th game and for 428 of them I’ve been your coach,” Bellamy wrote.

“Will this be your last? I don’t know. I don’t think you know. For the next 80 minutes, it won’t matter because all you want to do is win. Back in 2003 when our journey began, I urged you to work harder and push yourself. You took it on the chin and away we went. You were confident, calm and the direction you were giving me always seemed to be right. It wasn’t long before senior players started telling me that we had someone a cut above the rest.

“For me, you’re the best. No matter how great the pressure, you never break. Never has. Never does. Cameron, thank you for everything you’ve done for this club. For the game and for me.”

The idea for the letters was the brainchild of assistant coach Jason Ryles, seized upon by vice-captain Jesse Bromwich and put into action by Ponissi. One by one, he contacted the people selected by the players. Smith, he saved to last.

“Smithy didn’t want any emotion,” Ponissi said.

“‘Rylesy’ came up with the idea. So Jesse Bromwich and Rylesy were the drivers. Players nominated someone who wasn’t going to be at the game. It was to do with the big V — someone not necessarily from Victoria who was close in their life that they would love at the game. I went around and asked each of them who they wanted and then contacted that person. I then contacted Craig and Rylesy and said I have 20 out of 21 letters here, but the bloke who should get a letter hasn’t got one.

“Craig had to do a tribute for Channel 9. I said that is Smithy’s letter. I wrote, ‘hey Smithy, I know you didn’t want a letter, but the whole world tomorrow night will hear so you are the first to hear it’.”

The jerseys and letters were handed out by the club’s coaching staff. Bellamy did the five leaders and the other coaches divided the remaining players between them.

It had the desired effect as the Storm added another trophy to their cabinet. They celebrated on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on Monday, having arrived back at their temporary home at 5am.

Smith nursed the Provan-Summons trophy on the team’s chartered flight. They remain in isolation, though you get the feeling there will be few complaints. Papenhuyzen was crowned Clive Churchill medal winner as the game’s best player, fuelled by the words of Slater.

“We came to the ground and our jerseys were set out with a letter on top,” Papenhuyzen said.

“I decided on Billy — I wanted Billy to write me something. It was pretty cool. He just remembered a couple of conversations we had.

“One was when I was the third string (fullback). He remembers me going up to him and asking what I need to do to make first grade. He said from that point I knew you were going to be successful, so enjoy it mate, you’re not here by luck, it is all hard work.

“I didn’t know at the time he was thinking that but it was pretty special. He can take all the credit for this, I think. He has been huge, he is an open book, happy to share any information that helped in his career and what he thinks can help me as well.

“To have that from someone who has been so successful has been amazing. I thought I wanted to hear from him because I have looked up to him for a long time now.

“He has been in these grand finals before, he has won a Clive Churchill, so he knows what he is talking about.”