Storm's football boss fronts press conference and shares heartfelt Craig Bellamy message
Melbourne's football boss Frank Ponissi fronted the media post-match in a rare press conference move and confirmed Craig Bellamy was never going to be in the room after it was revealed during the week he'd been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder.
Normally the coach and captain are in the press conference, but instead it was Ponissi with Harry Grant at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Bellamy was in the coaching box and delivering messages as his side copped a seventh loss in a row with the Dolphins winning 28-10.
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Ponissi said it had been a "big few weeks" for the coach.
Harry Grant and Frank Ponissi. Nine
"With respect, he was never coming in tonight win, lose or draw," he confirmed.
"He's been through a lot with his family so I think we just gave him an opportunity to not worry about tonight.
"But in terms of how he coached tonight, you wouldn't think there was anything there in the last few days of what he's gone through. It's quite remarkable.
"It's tough, but he's purely about the team and trying to fix where we're going wrong and getting a win. He's already working on next week, and that's what we love about him."
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The Storm's football boss also offered Bellamy's thanks to all those who'd provided well wishes.
"He's overwhelmed by the support. So is his family. It's happened so quickly the last 24 to 48 hours," Ponissi said.
"He's just exceptionally grateful for all the support ... he just wants to focus now on coaching and focus on getting us back winning and that's all his major focus is."
Ponissi also said he had no doubt Bellamy would continue coaching until the end of the season.
Grant, when asked about Bellamy, admitted the feeling around the situation was "raw and real".
"It's all part of the journey ... but at the end of the day that's life and the cards that have been dealt and there's probably two parts of it, on the field and off the field," he said.
"At the moment we've got to fix some things on the field to ease some things off the field."
