He may be a New South Welshman to the core but Craig Bellamy could not help but sit back and enjoy his Storm stars wreak havoc on the Blues in Origin I.
Skipper Cameron Smith was named Man of the Match, narrowly edging out clubmates Cooper Cronk and Will Chambers, while Billy Slater was predictably strong at the back.
Chambers in particular stole the show with his game-high 260 metres and his first Origin try. It was a performance that left his club coach sitting back and admiring with great pride from his couch back in Melbourne.
"Being just Will's second game – I can't remember a guy performing as well in his first two Origin games than Will," Bellamy said.
"A young guy, playing a different position I thought he was outstanding on Wednesday night.
"Playing on the wing, you don't think it is a whole heap different to the centre but it is. He has handled it with ease and he was tremendous.
"They were great our four guys, we are really proud of them."
Asked whether he would consider switching Chambers from his customary centre position to the wing, Bellamy revealed that thought had already been quashed by the 27-year-old.
"I mentioned that to him last year after he played so well in Origin III but he wasn't all that keen on it to be honest so we will let that slip by," Bellamy said.
Chambers returned to home to Melbourne on Thursday along with Smith, Cronk and Slater. The quartet has been given time off until Sunday before rejoining their teammates for a flight back to Sydney to tackle the Roosters on Monday night.
Unlike the injury disaster of Origin I 12 months ago that left the 'Big Three' all wounded, all four players emerged relatively unscathed from their stellar showing.
"In that intense sort of a game there are always going to be a few niggles but at this stage they've come through without anything too major," Bellamy said.
"They are having a bit of a rest at the moment and we'll check them out on Sunday and we'll go from there."
The Roosters had five Origin representatives of their own and will be looking to continue their return to form with a third consecutive win.
The Monday night fixture means the added rest will greatly benefit all nine rep stars and the Storm coach expects the two teams to prepare accordingly.
"The Roosters are as hard hit as we are. We know how tough it is for us but we imagine it is the same for them," Bellamy said.
"It's a shame that it probably affects the quality of the teams but having said that if one of those guys turns up on Sunday and says they can't play we are very confident we've got guys who can come in, take their place and do a good job.
"That's what we've been about this week, not waiting for those guys to come back but if they do we'll fit them in."
