Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy was left to rue a host of missed opportunities as the Storm failed to pull off a miraculous comeback victory over the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park on Friday night.
It looked like the Roosters were on their way to an easy win when they led 20-0 but the Storm dug deep to draw level with more than 20 minutes remaining in the grand final rematch.
The Storm had all the momentum and were on track to record the second biggest comeback victory in club history but they let the Roosters off the hook and Latrell Mitchell capitalised, sealing the 21-20 victory with a booming field goal in extra-time.
Bellamy was a dejected man after the loss and said the decision-making from his side in the closing stages could have been much better.
"We had a couple of chances to win the game and didn't handle them too well,” Bellamy said in the wake of the Storm's first loss of 2019.
Match Highlights: Storm v Roosters
"We dropped the ball down under the posts with about three or four of minutes to go and when we got to 20-all we didn’t manage the game."
Bellamy was also critical of a missed tackle that allowed Sitili Tupouniua to make 30 metres up the middle in the opening set of golden point which ultimately allowed the Roosters to get within field goal range.
"That missed tackle was huge," Bellamy said.
"To let someone run through our middle and run 30 metres, we got what we deserved."
The Storm now have five days off to lick their wounds ahead of the annual Anzac Day match-up against the Warriors.
Bellamy said his players will face an intense recovery session and review of the Good Friday clash to see where it all went wrong against the Roosters.
Tempers flare in grand final rematch
"There will be some important messages for us out of that game," he said.
"We need to see how we handle them and taken them into our next game.
"Short turnarounds are always pretty tough, but everyone does it.
"We need to make sure we do a good job of it and are ready to go again on Thursday night."
Kiwi hooker Brandon Smith hurt his shoulder on Friday night and will be monitored ahead of the Anzac Day clash against the Warriors.
