In all the years Craig Bellamy has been involved with the game of rugby league, he says he has never experienced a season quite like this.
Heading into the final regular season round, five teams still have their finals hopes up in the air, making for a thrilling season finale.
The Storm find themselves right in the thick of it.
In sixth position on the ladder with a top four chance just as likely as slipping out of the top eight, it is a strange set of circumstances for the perennial finals contender.
It is a scenario that even has their master coach in unchartered territory.
“I don’t think I have seen a competition like this, and I don’t think a lot of people have,” said Bellamy.
“I think there are a lot of sides in our shoes as well not knowing where you are going to finish.”
Melbourne has missed the finals just once since Bellamy took charge in 2003.
Wins to the Cowboys, Warriors, Bulldogs and opponents the Broncos will see them bow out of the eight in dramatic fashion.
But Melbourne can make those results matter little for their own cause should they come away from Friday night with their fourteenth win of the season.
The fact that their fortune is still in their own hands sits well with the coach.
“It is without a doubt… It has been all year to be quite honest but there are a lot of games this week that will shape the eight,” Bellamy said.
“All we know is if we get the result we want we will live to fight another week so hopefully that is the case.”
But what if Friday night doesn’t go their way and the club is forced to endure an agonising wait over the weekend to decide their fate?
“It might be time to break the drinking ban,” Bellamy quipped.
The Storm take on the Broncos at AAMI Park on Friday night, with one lucky fan in attendance to get the chance to kick for a million dollars.
