By Roy Ward
Storm skipper Cameron Smith will demand his side improve its training habits and regain the consistency that was the pride of the club for the past decade.
Storm's season ended with 28-4 loss to Canterbury Bulldogs in the elimination final at AAMI Park on Sunday with the home side all but out of the contest after conceding four tries (all converted) in a horror first half.
Storm captain Cameron Smith talks to his players after losing to the Bulldogs on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
Storm coach Craig Bellamy told his side to hang their heads in shame and Smith agreed as the home side's poor play meant departing stars Ryan Hoffman and Sisa Waqa left on disappointing terms.
Bellamy said he had no idea how his side could perform so poorly after preparing well during the week. "The Bulldogs were too good and played really well but we beat ourselves in that first 15 minutes and give ourselves no chance," he said.
"To start a game like this - like that - the players were obviously not ready to start doing the things we wanted to do.
"We were waiting for things to happen - we were like rabbits in the headlights.
"I'm not quite sure how that can happen - it's shattering and bloody embarrassing to be quite honest."
Bellamy said there were no signs of any nerves or problems with his side leading up to the game.
"We had no inclination - we trained well this week and the warm-up was good today so there was obviously a few guys there who were not switched on to what they had to do for the team in the first 20 minutes," he said.
With Hoffman leaving for New Zealand Warriors, Bellamy said his players should be embarrassed to send a long-time star of the club away on such a loss.
"He has been here 11 years and he is one of the best team players I've ever coached and his dad was one of the best teammates I ever played with," Bellamy said.