Player's prank on Craig Bellamy's grandson backfires brutally

If any player in the Melbourne Storm's squad can get away with making the coach's grandson cry, it's probably Brandon Smith.

The Storm utility is renowned for being one of the biggest larrikins in the competition, but his cheeky nature backfired on him in a hilarious incident involving Bellamy's grandson.

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Melbourne released video of the hilarious incident to their social media accounts, with the vision starting off by showing the players leaving their team hotel in Queensland.

A small gathering of fans were waving Storm flags and cheering on the team as they made their way out of the hotel lobby.

Among them was Bellamy's young grandson, who happened to be sucking on a lollipop as Smith walked past.

Deciding he wanted to "get one up" on his coach, the charismatic Smith snatched the lollipop from the youngster's grasp as he walked past.

The little guy's look of delight quickly turned to despair as the realisation dawned on him that his lolly had been stolen from under his nose.

Smith admitted on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy that the well-intentioned stunt didn't quite go accordingly to plan.

“I thought I’d get one up on Bellsa (Bellamy) so I stole his grandson’s lollipop,” Smith said.

“I didn’t know the camera was watching us. When I stole the lollipop, he started crying.

“Me and Bellsa (Bellamy) have (since) made up for it.”

Melbourne earned a week off after their 36-24 win over Parramatta but found themselves at the centre of a "cheating" controversy.

The Storm are under fire from the NRL after a trainer called for play to be stopped to treat Suliasi Vunivalu for cramp against the Eels on Saturday night.

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Referee Ashley Klein blew time off after a request from the trainer, stopping the Eels’ attacking momentum in a crucial moment late in the Storm’s win in their qualifying final.

Parramatta players were left seething when it was revealed Vunivalu only had a cramp, with commentators and fans also condemning Melbourne over the incident.

On Monday, NRL head of football Graham Annesley said he will seek an explanation from the Storm as to why the trainer asked for play to be stopped.

Annesley said it appeared to be a tactical ploy from the Storm which breached NRL rules.

Under the rules, a trainer who attempts to unnecessarily stop play for tactical reasons can be ordered from the playing area for the remainder of the match.

The incident occurred in backplay while the Eels were on a roll in attack, 30 metres out from the Storm's line.

Annesley said the trainer signalled to Klein to stop play before he had reached Vunivalu, without knowing the extent of his injury.

The winger then received treatment for what appeared to be a leg cramp, holding up play for several seconds under protest from Eels skipper Clint Gutherson.

"Rules are pretty clear. We need to seek an explanation from the Storm on that incident, which we will do," Annesley said on Monday.

"But on the face of it, it would appear to be a contravention of the rules.

"We'll be in touch with the Storm and decide if that matter goes any further."

with AAP

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