Melbourne's miserable NRL run has been so bad that even three-time premiership-winning coach Craig Bellamy says he's not got faith their season can be salvaged.
Bellamy turned the blowtorch back on his players after their fourth-straight loss, describing the Storm as being at a "crossroads" and saying it was up to his squad to determine if they finish the year with a whimper.
The 24-12 defeat to South Sydney on Saturday also led to Melbourne dropping out of the NRL's top four.
Not since 2015 - the same year they last lost four consecutive games - have Melbourne been as low as fifth on the table so late in the season.
"I'm not confident I can turn it around," Bellamy said.
"I come in here saying the same thing every week.
"We had some good effort but there's some stuff that you're not going to get away with at this level and you'll pay a price and that's what we've done in the last couple of weeks.
The loss to Souths follows defeats to Manly, Cronulla and Canberra.
Bellamy has questioned his side's commitment in defence but his cause has not been helped by the fact regular first-teamers Ryan Papenhuyzen, Christian Welch, Reimis Smith, Tepai Moeroa, George Jennings, Xavier Coates and Tepai Moeroa are all out injured.
Only Moeroa and Coates are expected back this season.
Brandon Smith will return from suspension in round 21 and the Storm are desperate to add an extra outside back as they bid to strengthen before the NRL's August 1 transfer deadline.
Those reinforcements will be desperately needed given what lies ahead of Melbourne over the remaining six rounds of the season.
After travelling to Auckland to take on the Warriors next Friday, the Storm then face the Gold Coast before aiming to tackle fellow finals contenders Penrith, Brisbane, the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta prior to the finals campaign.
With such a tough road ahead of them, Bellamy delivered a blunt reminder to his players that this mess was on them to fix.
"I wouldn't say I relish it, but (my attitude) is, 'it is what it is'," Bellamy said.
"It's no use hoping something's going to happen, you've got to make it happen through hard work.
"We are probably at the crossroads. We have got to decide whether we're going to turn left or turn right and, with all due respect, the players will make that decision."
