Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says draw has been tough for his side - The Daily Telegraph

The Storm lost to the Warriors in Auckland at the weekend. Source: Getty Images

CRAIG Bellamy has labelled Melbourne Storm's draw one of the toughest he has encountered in his time in the game.

Storm has lost four of its past five matches, and the task won't be any easier when it plays the in-form Raiders in Canberra on Sunday.

The Storm mentor said his side had to find a way to dig itself out of the current form slump, which has not been helped by back-to-back away trips since Origin.

"We're not the only ones, but the draw probably hasn't been too kind to us," Bellamy said.

"After Sunday, five of our last six games have been away from home.

"That's pretty taxing as well when you have some guys coming back from Origin and you're travelling every week.

"We knew what we were faced with at the start of the year and we planned for it, but perhaps some of those plans haven't worked out how we hoped."

Bellamy is not expecting any sympathy from Canberra, which has won its past three games.

"Raiders are a good side. I don't think they've been beaten at home this year."

When asked if Melbourne was being punished with a tough draw for being successful, Bellamy replied: "I don't know. If I say that I'm in trouble, so I'll let you say that."

A top four finish no longer looks certain with a very tough run to finish the home and away season.

After the Raiders, Storm meets ladder-leaders South Sydney and then faces Newcastle on the road.

"We're not where we like to be," Bellamy said.

"We have a plan in place, and hopefully we will be fresh at the end of the season. But having said that, we have to start picking up our form and playing well from now."

Storm's 30-22 loss to the Warriors last round was considered one of the games of the season.

Bellamy said Melbourne must tighten its defence and find some consistency.

"The cohesion of our team probably isn't quite there, because throughout Origin they probably only train with us once a week when they are back with us" he said.

"That eight-week period we don't have our Origin players here too much, and that affects your cohesion a little bit with the footy."