Craig Bellamy: Storm have 'got a problem'

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has admitted his side has problems. Photo / Getty

Melbourne, we have a problem.

That was the admission of Storm coach Craig Bellamy following his side's 34-16 NRL capitulation to cellar dwellers the Wests Tigers on Friday night.

In a game in which they went in as raging-hot favourites, the Storm looked like anything but a premiership team as they let in six tries against a far less fancied opposition.

The Storm will likely end the weekend still in fifth spot but are in danger of losing touch with the top four.

However, according to Bellamy, that is only a minor concern.

More pressing for the master coach is that just six weeks out from the finals, his side went belly up after sprinting to an early 10-0 lead.

He accused his side of going "a bit soft" and turning off after their second try in the 16th minute.

It was the biggest scoreline his side has conceded this year and for Bellamy, alarm bells were now ringing.

"That's the disappointing thing - we played well for 20 minutes and we can't back it up for another 60. Basically gave up without a yelp.

"The last 58 minutes or whatever it was - they scored 34 points to six.

"That's the most points we've had put on us all year and basically they were put on in 60 minutes.

"We've got a problem."

Captain Cameron Smith said he warned his teammates that the Tigers, who went into the match on the bottom of the ladder, would have a nothing-to-lose mentality, but they failed to heed his words.

"If we're fair dinkum, if we play to our capabilities, we shouldn't lose these games," he said.

"No disrespect to the Wests Tigers, but if we play to our capabilities we should come away with two points."

- AAP