Bellamy soon to make Storm call

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yourhero
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http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/melbou ... 8117e30b40

Melbourne Storm ‘comfortable’ with premiership coach Craig Bellamy’s contract stalemate
GILBERT GARDINER
Herald Sun
April 19, 2018

A CONTRACT stalemate, beyond the control of Storm and Craig Bellamy, has led to speculation about the 58 year-old’s future but the clubs says the coach has a job for life at Melbourne.

CRAIG Bellamy can have a job for life in Melbourne.

The Storm premiership mastermind need only sign the paperwork.

A contract stalemate, beyond the control of Storm and Bellamy, has led to speculation about the 58 year-old’s future, including a possible return to Brisbane.

Bellamy, whose daughter lives in Gold Coast, was also linked to North Queensland previously and the embattled Titans last season.

Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy has dismissed the speculation as “white noise”.

“We’ve made it abundantly clear that we want Craig Bellamy to continue at Storm for as long as he likes,” Donaghy told the Herald Sun.

The Storm premiership mastermind need only sign the paperwork.

A contract stalemate, beyond the control of Storm and Bellamy, has led to speculation about the 58 year-old’s future, including a possible return to Brisbane.

Bellamy, whose daughter lives in Gold Coast, was also linked to North Queensland previously and the embattled Titans last season.

Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy has dismissed the speculation as “white noise”.

“We’ve made it abundantly clear that we want Craig Bellamy to continue at Storm for as long as he likes,” Donaghy told the Herald Sun.

“I’ve got no interest in commenting on contract discussions, I’ll remain true to that, outside of saying that we’re working along a timeline,” Donaghy said.

“There’s been some challenges around representation at the coach’s end but we’re very comfortable with our relationship.

“Craig and I we’ve known each other for a long, long time … if we read something about what each other’s intentions in the press, before we spoke about it ourselves, it would be extremely surprising and there has been no surprises.”

The burning question for doting grandfather Bellamy is whether he actually wants to coach full-time beyond this season.

The super coach is firmly embedded in the Melbourne sporting landscape, having led Storm to four grand final wins from seven attempts in the past 15 seasons.

“He’s the best coach in the game, the best coach in the business, and I still think he’s got a lot to offer both Melbourne and Storm,” Donaghy said.

“I can see an appetite and desire there to keep this team at the level it needs to be, particularly with so many new faces.

“It’s a pretty exciting challenge for him and I’d love to see him continue.”

A quiet reboot on the run has rejuvenated Melbourne’s list and Bellamy’s appetite beyond the silverware-studded ‘Big Three’ era.

Bellamy disciples Cameron Smith and Billy Slater also come off contract this season.
Cameron
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Emma Freeman said on the Matty Johns show last night that the Storm have given Bellyache till the Broncos game to make his decision.
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Cameron wrote:Emma Freeman said on the Matty Johns show last night that the Storm have given Bellyache till the Broncos game to make his decision.

Yes Emma would know
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She threw this out as media tv soap opera melodrama bait. Realising that Bellyache would re-sign with the Storm anyway.
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Craig was on Triple M this afternoon. He said it is rubbish Storm have given him a dead line to sign. He said both clubs are being very supportive of him and his decision making time.
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Bellyache still hasn't made up his mind yet.

http://www.espn.com.au/nrl/story/_/id/2 ... eron-smith

Smith said Bellamy was undecided about what he would be doing next year as he prepares to face the Broncos at AAMI Park.

"I met with Craig last week and just had a chat to him, he was undecided," Smith told Fox Sports' NRL360.

"I can honestly say that; he was weighing up his options.

"Everyone at the Storm would love him to stay on. We understand he brings a lot to this club, not only as a coach on the field, but the whole organisation as well.

"He's got a huge profile down here in Melbourne now and it's great for our business and great for all the guys that want to come down here and be coached by one of the best coaches that has ever been a part of our game.

"It's a big decision not only for himself but for his family. We understand that, we go through contract negotiations all the time."

Bellamy's decision is expected to in turn impact veterans Smith and Billy Slater, who will need to make calls themselves about their futures at the Storm
storminghome
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Seriously why is he taking so long to make up his mind??!!
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storminghome wrote:Seriously why is he taking so long to make up his mind??!!
I saw Craig interviewed about it.

Said he wasn't sure why it was still news (or words to that effect).

Said that he hoped to have it all sorted out soon with a slight smile/grin/smirk on his face...

Don't reckon if he was leaving that he would be so light hearted about such a monumental decision for the MSRLFC.

Just my take having seen the footage...
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Maybe yet another win over them has tipped the scales in our favour.
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The Word is we will find out today or tomorrow.
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https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/bellam ... 4zl98.html

Bellamy likely to choose Storm over Broncos by the weekend
By Adrian Proszenko
13 June 2018 — 5:05pm

Craig Bellamy is expected to end speculation about his future by the weekend in a move that will create a chain reaction in the coaching ranks.

Melbourne is the favourite to land Bellamy’s signature, hopeful the $5 million deal they have tabled will thwart overtures from the Broncos. Storm officials are more confident now of their chances than when Brisbane’s interest first became public, and a decision is expected well before Sunday’s clash with Newcastle.

Bellamy’s agent, Rod Read, said a decision isn’t far away.

“We continue productive discussions and hopefully we’ll have an outcome soon,” Read said. “All parties are keen to get it resolved. Hopefully we can achieve that shortly.

“We said early on that the Melbourne Storm offer was a very significant offer. I stand by that. We’ve had some terrific discussions with them and we can move things forward and get an outcome shortly.”

The Storm beat the Broncos last weekend in what many dubbed as a clash between Wayne Bennett and his potential successor Bellamy. Brisbane have promised Bennett his job is safe until his contract expires at the end of next year, meaning Bellamy would have to sit out for a season before starting at Red Hill. The other option is for the Broncos to pay out Bennett and replace him with Bellamy straight away.

That doesn’t sit well with Bellamy, although there are professional and personal reasons that make a move north enticing. So too is the challenge of building on his legacy in Melbourne, particularly as stalwarts Cameron Smith and Billy Slater reach the end of their careers.

Bellamy didn’t want to make a decision until he had spoken with co-owner and Crownbet boss Matt Tripp, a meeting that took place earlier in the week.

“I’m hopeful,” Tripp said.

“I think we’ve covered all the stuff we need to cover and the ball is now in Craig’s court.

“He’s got to make a decision in the best interests of his family and himself and for a whole host of other reasons that are personal to him.

“I’m hoping the decision rests with the club he’s grown and been such a huge part of for over a decade.”

There are huge ramifications for the team that misses out. As revealed by Fairfax Media on Sunday, there is some support at the Broncos to target South Sydney mentor Anthony Siebold if they miss out on Bellamy. Seibold comes off contract at the end of 2019 - the same year as Bennett - meaning his transition could be far more seamless than Bellamy's potential switch.

The Rabbitohs are aware of Brisbane’s interest and are attempting to extend his stay at Redfern after an impressive start to his NRL. Siebold’s stocks are on the rise - Souths are equal premiership favourites and he can expect an upgrade whether he stays or goes. Siebold’s manager, Isaac Moses, also manages Storm assistant Adam O’Brien, considered the man most likely to replace Bellamy at Melbourne at some stage.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters has long been considered Bennett’s successor, but the fact he is no longer on the Broncos staff - and could feel snubbed in favour of Bellamy by Brisbane - raises question marks about his place in succession planning.
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Bellamy is staying. Great news, as expected for a while now
Mattpoet
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Feel better when it's official though
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https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/ ... 1f2dcf1b3b


SUPER coach Craig Bellamy has recommitted to Melbourne Storm until the end of 2021, on a deal worth more than $4m. In a major coup for the reigning premier, the Sunday Herald Sun can reveal Bellamy has elected to stay in Melbourne and rejected the Brisbane Broncos four-year mega-deal after several weeks of uncertainty.

Storm is expected to make an official announcement on Sunday ahead of the club’s crunch game against Newcastle Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium. The Sunday Herald Sun understands the 58-year-old Bellamy told Storm players and staff of his decision on Saturday night. Broncos officials have also been informed.

“I’ve always been confident of Craig staying, it’s the right fit for him, the team and the entire organisation,” Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy said.
It emerged last month Brisbane officials had secretly met with Bellamy in Melbourne about the possibility of him replacing legendary Broncos coach and former mentor Wayne Bennett, as early as next season.Bennett remains contracted until the end of 2019.

The Broncos reportedly dangled one of the richest coaching contracts in NRL history to lure the Storm premiership mastermind to Brisbane. The surprise bid caught Melbourne off-guard and stalled negotiations. But Bellamy finally agreed to the standing three-year deal late on Saturday. Bellamy wrestled with the decision but ultimately elected to stay in Melbourne.

His commitment paves the way for Storm to focus on re-signing Cameron Smith (2018) and Cameron Munster (2019) – among the club’s top priorities. Billy Slater (hamstring) is likely to wait until the end of the season to decide his future. Like with Bellamy, Storm isn’t prepared to place any deadlines on Smith and Slater, in a mark of respect for their legacy and contribution in Melbourne.

Importantly, the contract extension allows Bellamy to see out the succession plan already in place to prepare Storm for life after the Big Three – Smith, Slater and Cooper Cronk, who departed last season. Bellamy’s legacy in Melbourne – and rugby league generally – is unparalleled, having led Storm to seven grand finals in 15 seasons and won four. The 407-game coach owns a career winning strike rate of 67.8 per cent – the second highest ever for a coach with more than 100 games’ experience.

Bellamy last year became the fastest coach to reach 250 wins, on the way to claiming a record fourth Dally M Coach of the Year award.
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yourhero
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Yep, never thought he was a legitimate chance of leaving. Nobody better to lead us through the most important transition period in our club’s (relatively short) history.

Great to have it sorted and move on from the constant speculation....... to the now constant speculation about Billy and Cam’s extensions.
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