The Storm will lock horns with Super League champions Leeds Rhinos on February 16 at AAMI Park.

Melbourne currently hold both the NRL minor premiership and grand final titles from 2017, and are gunning for another crown.

“It would obviously be a nice feeling [to win it],” Bellamy told reporters.

“I don’t think too many clubs have won the minor premiership and a premiership and the World Club Challenge trophy all at the same time. So we’d like to join that elite group.

“But we’ve always taken the World Club Challenge as a really serious game. At the end of the day you have to win the NRL competition or the English Super League competition to play in one of these games, so it’s not easy to get there.

“That’s the height we hold the World Club Challenge in.”

 


Storm skipper Cameron Smith has played in two past inter-hemisphere encounters before in his long and glorious career, both against Leeds.

The veteran hooker said the World Club Challenge is a “big match” that is “just as important” as the other big games he has played in previously.

“It’s nice to be able to win a World Club Challenge and be crowned the world champion club side,” Smith said.