Debate erupts as Rabbitohs gun explains ‘hissy fit' storm off footage
What's sport without emotion?
A bit of tears, laughs, and everything in between came out of Craig Bellamy and Jai Arrow in Saturday's nailbiting golden point finish against the Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Emotions certainly got the better of both player and coach, but in surprising ways.
In a game dominated by Melbourne against a South's side decimated by injuries, the purple outfit found themselves against a tougher than expected opponent in the Bunnies who kept in the fight.
Up by an unconverted try and with four minutes remaining coach Bellamy was captured absolutely fuming as he vehemently barked orders through a walkie talkie after an uncharacteristic Melbourne error, before the Bunnies evened up the score in the following set to 24-24
South Sydney star Arrow was then instrumental in keeping his side in the game with a try saving tackle in the corner on Grant Anderson that kept the scores levelled with a minute to play.
The move gave Latrell Mitchell the chance to almost recreate his field goal heroics from his team's win over the Broncos this year, but this time he narrowly missed the 45m shot right at the death in regular time.
Melbourne instead were the side to take the two points as Ryan Papenhuyzen iced a field goal from 17m out in extra time as the game finished 25-24.
But it was the post match reactions of Arrow and Bellamy that got fans talking.
While his teammates shook hands with the their opponents, a dejected Arrow, clearly frustrated with the unfortunate loss, instead marched straight off the field, kicking over a bench seat before heading up the Accor Stadium tunnel.
Appearing the next night on Sunday night with Matty Johns, the star Souths prop admitted emotions got the better of him.
'I had a bit of a hissy fit, obviously fairly disappointed with the result and I stormed off the field unfortunately. I walked straight into the sheds, grabbed a beer and went home ... it's all you can do after a loss,' he said on the panel.
Brian Fletcher responded to Arrow's explanation by saying: 'I respect that'.
According to Code Sports, however, Arrow also kicked over a bench seat before heading up the tunnel to the dressing room.
As shocking as it was to see a player not shake hands with the opponent, Bellamy was caught in an even rarer act after the whistle.
The storm coach could be seen with his arms in the air and a wide grin on his face after a fan sitting directly in front of his coaching box looked towards him and gave two thumbs up.
Only weeks ago Melbourne hooker Harry Grant tried to persuade Bellamy to crack a smile in a cheeky gesture as his side were up 64-0 against the Tigers, but on this occasion the fan was finally successful in giving rugby league fans a sight they never thought they'd see.
'You can win by 40 and get sprayed by Craig so you can imagine how happy he was with us,' forward Josh King said after the golden point win.
Oh Bellyache.
Arrow's antics were also the second time this season the player had an emotional response, after a fiery sideline altercation with a Bulldogs fan in the tradition Good Friday clash.
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