Australian Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant was a popular guest at Melbourne Storm’s season launch as the game’s powerbroker aimed to undo the damage caused by David Gallop in 2011.

National Rugby League chief Gallop was booed by Storm fans at a game at AAMI Park in September last year.

It was Gallop’s first appearance at a Melbourne match since stripping the club of two premierships in 2010 for salary cap breaches.

The day after he was booed, Gallop compared Storm fans to terrorists before apologising for the comment.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy, speaking on stage at Melbourne’s Crown Casino at the club’s season launch on Thursday, paid tribute to Grant as someone who had the game at heart.

“He actually played for Australia. He knows about our game and he’s passionate about our game,” Bellamy said.

Grant said he was keen to give the Storm as much help as possible to stay strong in an AFL-dominated market.

“Melbourne have been here for 15 years and they’ve been such a great club for that period of time,” Grant told reporters.

“Melbourne’s a very key part of our business so that’s our responsibility to make sure that they know that we’re thinking of them and they feel very included.”

Grant said he was reluctant to comment on Gallop’s feud with the Storm’s fans last year.

“That’s all in the past,” he said.

“All we can do and all I can do personally is I can demonstrate to the administration down here and the playing community and the fan base that they’re a critical part of Australia’s rugby league environment.”

The Storm’s season launch included a new TV advertising campaign tagged “No Ordinary Team”, featuring interviews with players and Bellamy.

Designed to showcase the unique qualities of the Melbourne club, the campaign involves one 30-second and four 60-second documentary-style stories which focus on the bonds developed within the Storm.

Grant said: “I’ve loved tonight and I love the advertising campaign.”

Bellamy said he was enthusiastic about his 10th season and admitted it had been a roller-coaster ride.

“We’ve all been through some really great times and some really low times,” he said.

“In 2010 we showed the attitude of the people at this club. When we’re down, the players go out and they perform.

“I’m really proud to be their coach.”

Melbourne open their NRL season with a trip to Canberra Stadium to play the Raiders on March 3.