- Craig Bellamy says Coates is practicing in training
- Says Coates has had one of the best preseasons he’s ever seen
- Coates scored a match-winning try in the final play of the game
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Craig Bellamy has revealed that Xavier Coates’ aerial acrobatics to score the match-winning try against the Warriors are not too surprising because he is practicing in training.
Coates scored in the dying seconds of the AAMI Park game on Saturday to grab a 30-26 victory from the Warriors, with the winger escaping from almost five meters out and managing to make contact as he planted the ball down from great height.
Bellamy said the 23-year-old practiced such feats in training and was one of the hardest workers in the squad, with his improved defense this season also notable.
“He didn’t just do it tonight because that’s what he had to do, he practiced it,” the coach said.
‘Since he’s been here he’s been one of our hardest workers and he’s probably had almost the best pre-season of anyone we’ve ever had here.
Craig Bellamy says Xavier Coates is practicing trying to score in training
“Just with hard work, but also doing things like catching high balls, the things he has to do in his job.
‘He practices it and if he doesn’t practice it he won’t score that try tonight.
“He’s a hell of an athlete, but what he’s doing right now doesn’t surprise anybody here because we know he’s put in the work and he’s getting rewards for that and we’re getting rewards for that.” Bellamy also had praise for Storm back Ryan Papenhuyzen, who scored twice with his second in the 77th minute to put the Storm back in the game.
Returning from a badly broken leg that followed a career-threatening crushed kneecap, Papenhuyzen has lost none of his blistering speed off the mark.
Bellamy said it was great to see his confidence return and predicted he would continue to improve.
“He scored the two tries and had a couple of line changes and whatever, but I think he can improve on what he’s done the last two weeks as well,” Bellamy said. “He’s been out of the game for a long time but you can just feel his confidence coming back.
Xavier Coates’ jaw-dropping try with just 25 seconds to go sealed victory for the Storm
Fox commentator and former player Mick Ennis dubbed the try the best he had ever seen
Coach Bellamy said Coates works hard at practice and has had an excellent preseason
“The last two weeks he’s got a lot of confidence back from the three or four games he’s played this year and he thinks he’s going to get even better and better.” He’s also a great leader in our team … which really helps the team and the younger players so he has more to contribute.’