"I didn’t go into the game  thinking, 'whoever wins ... that’s where I’m going'," Bellamy said. "That didn’t come into it at all."

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But Bellamy will be leaving behind a formidable Storm team if he finds the lure of the Broncos too hard to resist.

There is no Cooper Cronk any more and Billy Slater sat in the stands, but Smith and Cameron Munster still boast enough firepower to beat any NRL side as the Storm ran in four tries to one after the break to reel in the fast-starting Broncos. Bennett was quick to deflect any criticism that may be aimed at the referees – in particular a crucial second-half call where Munster appeared to strip Corey Oates close to his own try-line, but the Broncos winger was ruled to have knocked on – as Melbourne ran riot after the break.

And he wasn’t in any great mood to discuss whether the Bellamy circus had an impact on his side, with Bennett still having a year to run on his deal in 2019 and Bellamy off contract at the end of this year.

"There’s no reason to be distracted by it," Bennett said. "I haven’t been distracted by it either."

On the limp second-half effort, Bennett said: "I don’t know who wore the jerseys in the second half, but the team didn’t come out. We were completely outplayed in the second half.

"I’m not going to throw the baby out with the bath water. We’ve still done a lot of good things and we’re a capable and competent football team. It leaves you a little puzzled to see why they allowed that to happen to themselves."

Storm utility Young Tonumaipea crashed over for a crucial try in his farewell home match before he leaves for Germany on a two-year Mormon mission.

Melbourne’s Queensland Origin duo Munster and Felise Kaufusi got the ball rolling after the break with solo efforts as Smith, who retired from representative football just a few weeks ago, was faultless with the boot.

"He came up with some really special kicks, some really special plays," Bellamy said of Smith. "I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I’m sure he’s made the right decision retiring from Origin.

"He always steps up every week, but he’s been a bit more vocal this week. If he hadn’t have played, I think we would have been in a bit of trouble."

Melbourne lost Jesse Bromwich to a hamstring injury late in the game, one which Bellamy thought would sideline the Kiwi prop for several weeks.