Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy believes the NRL minor premiership is underrated as his team wrapped up the honour with two games to play.
The Storm sealed top spot with two rounds remaining after a 48-6 thrashing of the Dolphins at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
It is the sixth time Melbourne has secured the minor premiership in its 27-year existence - as a possible blockbuster qualifying final against Penrith Panthers looms.
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Bellamy praises 'underrated' achievement for Storm
Bellamy, who was the coach in all six of Storm's minor premiership wins in 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2024, believes finishing top of the NRL standings is understated.
"For me, it’s a pretty big thing. I think the minor premiership is a little understated or underrated," Bellamy said after securing the minor premiership.
"If you look at it in a real simplistic way in that to be the minor premiers you’ve got to have more wins than anybody else so you’ve got to be the best team for 27 weeks.
"But to be the competition winner, you’ve probably only need to be the best team for four weeks — you need to obviously get there (first)."
However, with a first-week finals clash against arch-rivals Panthers looking a distinct possibility, Bellamy stated no one would remember the minor premiership once attention turned to finals.
"I think (the minor premiership is) a little bit underrated, understated... but having said that by Tuesday everyone would have forgotten who won the minor premiership," he said.
Storm-Panthers blockbuster looms in finals
After the Panthers' shock defeat to Canberra on Saturday night, the Mountain Men have slipped to fourth on the ladder with one round of the regular season to play.
If Penrith remain in fourth at the conclusion of the season, a blockbuster first week qualifying final against Storm at AAMI Park will be locked in.
Both teams have forged an intense finals rivalry with the Storm defeating the Panthers in the 2020 NRL grand final, with Penrith gaining plenty of revenge in recent years.
In their 2021 and 2023 premiership wins, Penrith defeated the Storm in the preliminary final.
