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By Steve Mascord

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy last night brought down the curtain on the most calamitous season endured by any club in premiership history, admitting he would never completely recover from the ordeal.

In front of 20,517 fans at AAMI Park, departing stars Greg Inglis, Brett White, Ryan Hoffman and Aiden Tolman all got on to the score sheet as the team stripped of two premierships and denied the opportunity to accrue points in 2010 beat Newcastle 34-4.

Captain Cameron Smith pointed out to reporters the Storm had won the same number of games as 2009, the year of one of its stripped premierships.

Bellamy - who is managed by The Fordham Company - said he felt relief and exhaustion but hinted at lingering ill-feeling when he conceded complete closure may never be achieved.

"I think there are issues I'll struggle to get over in my lifetime," said the NSW coach, who described his mood as "drained and a bit sad".

"I've got to get over things and get on with things but there are things that will stick in my craw for a little while, I'd imagine."

The comments come three days after NRL chief executive David Gallop fronted the Storm coaches and players for the first time and ahead of eight players being interviewed by salary cap commissioner Ian Schubert as part of his continuing investigation into the landmark rorts.

In one of the season's scrappiest games, Smith offered loyal fans a heartfelt thanks from a podium after departees Greg Inglis (Brisbane) posted two tries, Ryan Hoffman (Wigan) and Aiden Tolman (Canterbury) got one each and Jeff Lima (Wigan) kicked a goal.

Hooker Smith, who broke the 1000-point barrier yesterday, said: "Today we equalled the amount of wins that we had last year.

"People probably don't think that's a big issue but it is here, for us," Smith said. "We were playing for no points this year. It's not bad to finish the year with 14 wins when you're playing for nothing."

But there was just the barest whiff of defiance in misty-eyed Bellamy's failure to forgive and Hoffman's comment that: "I see it as a year that the Melbourne Storm showed we really work for each other and we're a team that never gives in, no matter what's thrown at us."

The Storm looked set for a Sunday picnic when they led 12-0 after 10 minutes but then they abruptly put the metaphorical food, thermos and blanket back in the basket as the contest descended into mistake-riddled farce.

Melbourne found its feet again late in the second half, Adam Blair turning on an NBA move with the ball in an outstretched hand before putting Tolman over.

Lima said: "I'm trying to soak it up with the boys that I've played with for five years. It's hard to say what my emotions are now but I'm sure it will hit me later on."

Hoffman added: "Bittersweet is the best way to describe it. We've had a fantastic day with the crowd and the boys playing really, really well but there is that tinge of sadness. But I'm only going to take happy memories away from this joint."

Bellamy, dew-eyed at the post-match media conference which was delayed by an extended lap of honour, said there were no guarantees for next year and admitted he had no idea how competitive the depleted Storm would be: "We're not quite starting again but close to it. It's going to take a lot of hard work from a lot of people."

Newcastle coach Rick Stone said: "I'm a bit disappointed with the final score. I think it wasn't really a true reflection of the effort of our blokes."

The Australian, September 6, 2010