'What I took out of the game': Craig Bellamy abruptly leaves presser over alleged hip-drop tackle on Cameron Munster

Craig Bellamy abruptly exited his post-match press conference after he questioned the NRL's stance on hip drop tackles, following an incident involving five-eighth Cameron Munster in the 26-18 win over the Bulldogs.

With around five minutes left to play and the Storm leading 20-18, Munster's foot was caught under Bulldogs forward Jaeman Salmon as he poked his way through the Bulldogs defensive line.

Munster immediately grabbed at his left ankle as he lay on the ground but avoided serious injury and was able to continue, although he had a significant limp.

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Bellamy was asked in the post-match press conference whether he agreed with Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo's comments about slow play-the-balls.

"The one thing I noticed today, it might have been slow play-the-balls, it might not have been. But it seems as though the league has come (to) a different opinion of hip drops now," he said.

"I don't think any player goes out there to drop their hip on the back of someone's legs, but in the past we've had players at other clubs be suspended for that.

"All of a sudden now it seems to be an accident. That's what I took out of the game."

Bellamy then stood up and left the press conference as Harry Grant was taken by surprise by the coach's sudden move.

Bellamy was clearly befuddled by the decision to not place Salmon on report, due to the heavy emphasis the league places on hip drop tackles.

Souths playmaker Jamie Humphreys earned a two-game suspension for a similar incident in round 27, while Nicho Hynes was handed a one-game ban for a hip drop in the same round, but the call was overturned.

Earlier, Bellamy was asked about Munster's availability after the incident.

"I don't think it's great, but I don't think it's anything too serious," Bellamy said.

"He was just talking to me about it then, he said it's really sore. But he will be all right."