Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy thinks a lack of organisation setting up for field goals may have cost his side victory against the Sea Eagles on Saturday night.
The Storm had their chances to register a 10th straight victory but were eventually outdone when Daly Cherry-Evans nailed the match-winner in the final minute of golden point to consign Bellamy's men to their first loss since round eight.
Brodie Croft, Cameron Smith and Cameron Munster all had chances to win it for the Storm in regulation time and golden point and Bellamy felt his side failed to set up correctly for all of their potential match-winners.
"It turned into a bit of a shootout and we probably didn’t handle it or get into the right positions as well as we should have on a couple of occasions,” Bellamy said after the 11-10 loss at AAMI Park.
Match Highlights: Storm v Sea Eagles
"We probably could have done a little bit better in a couple of those situations and Manly would be saying the same.
"Whether that would have made a difference, I don’t know.”
Bellamy was happy with his side's endeavour but was left to rue a poor start which saw the Storm held scoreless at half-time for the first time since last year's grand final.
Bellamy said his side made far too many errors and the chance to atone for last year's heartbreak against the Roosters won't be forthcoming unless his players learn how to hold on the ball and complete their sets.
Brandon Smith burrows over
"We had about 50 percent completions (during the opening 20 minutes of the match) and that is not going to cut it," Bellamy said.
"It's been like that for a little bit now and we need to sort that out somehow and get off to better starts.
"We need to hang on to the ball early in games if we are to play to our potential."
Bellamy said Jahrome Hughes was feeling OK after being on the receiving end of a dangerous tackle that saw Jake Trobjevic placed on report, while the Storm will monitor Christian Welch closely during the week after he failed his HIA.
