Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy makes shock confession about Xavier Coates’ miracle match-winning try
- Craig Bellamy says Coates practices the move during training
- Says Coates has had one of the best preseasons he’s ever seen
- Coates scored a match-winning try in the final action of the match
Craig Bellamy has revealed that Xavier Coates’ aerial acrobatics to score the match-winning try against the Warriors is not too surprising as he practices the move in training.
Coates scored in the dying seconds of Saturday’s AAMI Park match to snatch a 30-26 win for the Warriors, with the winger running from almost five yards out and managing to maintain contact as he planted the ball from a great height. .
Bellamy said the 23-year-old displayed such feats in training and was one of the hardest workers in the team, with his improved defense this season also notable.
“He didn’t just do that tonight because he had to, he practices that,” the coach said.
“Since he’s been here he’s been one of our hardest workers and has probably had almost the best pre-season of anyone we’ve ever had here.
Craig Bellamy says Xavier Coates practices the try-scoring move in training
‘Only by working hard, but also by doing things like catching high balls, the things he has to do in his job.
“He practices that and if he doesn’t practice that he won’t score that try tonight.
“He’s a great athlete, but what he’s doing right now doesn’t surprise anyone here because we know he’s worked hard and he’s getting rewards for it and we’re getting rewards for that.” Bellamy also had praise for Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, who scored twice with his second goal in the 77th minute to get the Storm back into the game.
Returning from a badly broken leg, which followed a shattered kneecap that threatened his career, Papenhuyzen has lost none of his blistering speed.
Bellamy said it was great to see his confidence returning and predicted he would continue to improve.
“He scored the two tries and had a few line breaks and whatever, but I think he can also improve on what he’s done in the last two weeks,” Bellamy said. ‘He’s been out of the game for a long time, but you can just feel his confidence returning.
Xavier Coate’s stunning try with just 25 seconds before the siren secured the Storm’s victory
Fox commentator and former player Mick Ennis called the effort the best he had ever seen
Coach Bellamy said Coates is a hard worker in training and has had an excellent pre-season
“Over the last two weeks he has regained a lot of confidence from the three or four games he has played this year and he thinks he will continue to get better and better. “He is also a great leader in our team… what the team really helps and the younger players, so he has more to contribute.”