MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Melbourne Storm will miss the NRL finals for the first time since 2010

It was one line from Craig Bellamy that convinced me Melbourne are on track to miss the finals for the first time since the salary cap-impacted 2010 season.

Asked about his side’s leaky defence following the 38-14 loss to the Warriors on Saturday night, the Storm boss said: “It’s hugely disappointing. We did a lot of work on our defence this week and we might as well have gone to the pub and had a couple of beers.”

Bellamy’s frustration and anger at the lack of effort was clearly evident.

He basically accused his team of tossing it in.

Bellamy has dragged the Storm out of deep holes before but has not missed a finals series – cap breaches aside - in his 23 years at the club.

But he may get this September off.

Rarely have I seen things go as bad as it’s been the past month.

It’s been the club’s worst start to a season.

Bellamy is a coaching Houdini but he may not be able to conjure up an escape this time.

There was dressing-room footage of Bellamy delivering a few home truths to some of his players after the Warriors loss, but the look on his face when he dropped the pub line indicated to me, he knows he just hasn’t quite got the roster to get the job done.

Yes, they’ve still got the big three – Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant and Cameron Munster – but lose quality players year after year and eventually that’s got to catch up with you.

The support staff working around the big three isn’t at the standard of years gone past.

They need a rebuild in a number of positions and that may take some time.

The stats show four losses in a row for the first time in four years but it’s the manner of the defeats that will have the coach sleeping three hours a night instead of his usual five.

The first two – against Brisbane and North Queensland - were narrow but games the Melbourne of old would not have thrown away.

They led the Broncos 14-0 at halftime and history shows they almost always go on to win matches when they’re ahead at the break.

But Melbourne did not strike a single blow in the second half, conceding 18 unanswered points.

The following week they twice led the Cowboys by 10 in the second half but failed to go on with the job.

Despite those two losses, I wrote at the time you’d have to be mad to write the Storm off this early.

But it’s what I have seen since in the past fortnight that is cause for real concern.

They conceded 50 points in going down to Penrith before backing it up with that dreadful display against the Warriors.

They missed 34 tackles against the Panthers and let in nine tries.

Against the Warriors, it was 32 missed tackles and six tries.

Eighty-eight points conceded in two games is unheard of at Melbourne.

In the past, they’d go five games and not cough up that many.

The well looks a little dry to me and the worst may be to come.

State of Origin is just around the corner and the Storm will lose a number of key players - plus influential football manager Frank Ponissi - for several weeks.

From what I understand, Bellamy won’t be part of Laurie Daley’s NSW coaching staff so at least Melbourne will have his full focus during that most testing of periods.

The Storm have traditionally banked enough competition points heading into Origin to limit any damage when their rock stars are away.

And, often, the players left behind grow an extra leg and rack up a few wins despite being the side not being at full strength.

They won’t have that luxury this year.

Bellamy is a coaching Houdini but he may not be able to conjure up an escape this time.

AND DON’T GET ME STARTED

What a weekend of contrast it was for two of Sydney’s biggest clubs on Sunday.

Just a few minutes after the Parramatta Eels were booed off Commbank Stadium by fans following an embarrassing loss to the Titans, the Wests Tigers were getting to work dismantling Newcastle in Campbelltown.

Let’s go with the good news first.

I’ve been watching the Tigers closely since the trials and love the way they are going about their football.

They are big on ball movement and the late offload, with prop Terrell May a master of getting the pill away just as a play is about to die.

But it’s a lot more controlled than previous years. They are first winning the right to use the ball through those powerful and mobile forwards who give you no peace.

They’re as fit as any team I’ve seen, and they want to create history by being the first Tigers team since 2011 to make the finals.

Benji Marshall take a bow. It’s great to watch.

The same can’t be said for Parramatta after they gave up 52 points at home against a team with one win to its name.

The Eels had no fight or care factor. It was beyond embarrassing.

On the back of that performance – and with the injuries fast mounting up – it looks another painful season for the blue and gold army.