Just as it’s unwise to upset a Wookiee, it’s equally ill-advised to question Craig Bellamy’s coaching methods. 

He is one of the greatest coaches of all time and whether you include an asterisk over achievements during the Storm’s salary cap scandal or not, his record is exceptional.

One of the hallmarks of Melbourne’s greatness during his time in charge is their ability to maintain their intensity from go to whoa, whether that’s from start to finish in a match or the long grind of a season stretching out over the best part of seven months.

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It is well documented that the Storm have a magnificent record in the first round of the season – not losing a match to open the season since Bellamy assumed the coaching reins in 2003.

The main theory behind their brilliant record in this regard is that Bellamy works the Storm players harder than any other coach in the pre-season to ensure they are fit and firing from the opening whistle.

There’s also the small matter of the Storm perennially possessing one of the best rosters in the NRL through their peerless recruitment record and judicious (for the most part, legal) salary cap management.

It’s all well and good to start the year with a bang but coaches earn their reputation at the pointy end of the season and Bellamy has mastered the mix of art and science that goes into keeping his team fresh so they peak for the finals.

Since their 2010 season was wiped out when they were not allowed to accrue competition points due to salary cap scandal, the Storm have consistently been racking up the wins in the first half of each season.

Apart from the anomaly of 2014 when they “plunged” to a 6-6 record at the mid-point of the season, they have usually won at least eight of their first 12 matches, peaking at 11-1 on the way to taking out the 2012 title.

An overall record of 73.6% for the first half of the year over the past 15 seasons is incredible in itself.

Craig Bellamy. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

But what is even more remarkable is that the Storm don’t drop off in the second half of the year even though they regularly have one of the highest number of players involved in State of Origin.

From the Big Three era of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater to the current crop of Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Xavier Coates and now Stefano Utoikamanu and Trent Loiero.

The extra workload during the rep period brings untold fatigue on the game’s best players but even though Melbourne have had dozens of Origin reps, their results at club level remain exceedingly high.

Over the second half of the season since 2011, their winning percentage barely drops, coming in at 71.1% to still be the envy of every other club.

After winning eight of their first 12 fixtures this season, the Storm have stumbled a little in losing three of their past seven, including a surprise defeat at the hands of Manly last Saturday.

Storm legend Cameron Smith has mentioned a few times on Nine commentary this year that Bellamy seems to have mellowed slightly in his old age and does not appear to be cracking the whip on his players as much when they have fallen short of the club’s ultra-high expectations.

Heading into Thursday night’s Allianz Stadium showdown with the Roosters, they are running third after Canterbury edged ahead of them via their two-point victory over the Dragons.

Canberra are a further two points ahead in top spot in the race for the minor premiership and while the Storm, who have the best for-and-against record in the NRL, can reel in the Dogs when they meet in Round 25, they would need the Raiders to stumble a couple of times to finish in first.

Four days after the fact and Bellamy was still seething over his team’s 18-16 loss to Manly, reminding his players that better effort and execution is not just expected but demanded.

“I thought the way we started the game was poor and with all due respect, the rest of the game we were outplayed,” he said.

“We didn’t think we had our mind on the job at the start of the game and that really hurt us.”

Ryan Papenhuyzen celebrates with teammates. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Bellamy was anxious about the five-day turnaround, particularly on the road, and will be without star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen for the fourth straight match after what was supposed to be a minor calf problem.

“When it first happened it was only going to be a week. I don’t understand injuries all that well, I haven’t done me PhD or whatever it is,” he said with a wry grin, taking a somewhat philosophical approach to Papenhuyzen’s absence.

They will face a desperate Roosters outfit with Trent Robinson recalling Sandon Smith at five-eighth after his surprising decision to bring Chad Townsend out of the NSW Cup wilderness backfired against the Sharks.

“It didn’t work out how we wanted last week,” Robinson said on Wednesday.

“But there’s two separate things there – we weren’t happy with the way we played but also Sandon wasn’t there for a reason.

“We’ve always believed in him as a player. I think we’ve shown that for the last few years in his development.”