Bellamy weighing up rival offer

Updated December 30, 2012 15:01:29

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has admitted he is weighing up a move to another NRL club, believed to be the St George Illawara Dragons.

Bellamy led the Storm to the NRL crown this year, a particularly sweet triumph after the side was stripped of its previous title in 2009.

The master tactician is in the last year of his contract with the Storm and is uncertain about his future.

A potential $6 million five-year contract with the Dragons is apparently on offer and Bellamy admits he faces a tough decision - especially as he expects his next coaching contract to be his last.

"It is either Storm or one other club and I want to make the decision in January," Bellamy told News Limited.

"It might be three years or it might be five years. It will see me out. I'm 54 now and that's probably long enough for my liking.

"I probably shouldn't say that but it's how I feel.

"The important thing is, I don't want this dragging on and on.

"The decision needs to be made in January or certainly before we go to England for the World club challenge."

Bellamy says the prospect of leaving long-time players such as captain Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk makes the decision difficult.

"Of course it would be hard to leave them," Bellamy said.

"That's part of the decision I have to make. We're all very close."

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, melbourne-3000, wollongong-2500, nsw

First posted December 30, 2012 15:01:29

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Bellamy set to rebuild victorious Storm again

Updated October 02, 2012 09:02:23

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy says rebuilding a team stripped bare by the salary cap scandal has been the most energy-sapping period of his career.

Bellamy and his bleary-eyed players held aloft the premiership trophy on Monday in front of more than 3,000 fans in Melbourne following Sunday night's 14-4 grand final win over the Bulldogs in Sydney.

And his pleasure was plain to see at completing a task many thought was beyond anyone - a first premiership triumph since the Storm had their 2007 and 2009 titles expunged for rorting the salary cap.

"The last three years have been very energy-sapping I must say, and it's taken us a lot of hard work to get where we're at," Bellamy said.

"There's been a lot of time put in, a real lot of effort, and it was particularly good to get that result last night.

"We lost half our squad, I lost all my assistant coaches. It was a lot of hard work.

"But the strong point about our club is the people we bring here usually jump on board with what we're doing."

Now Bellamy is facing yet another rebuild, with five Storm players involved in a victory built on superhuman defence leaving the club.

"We're losing five guys out of that side last night - and that's a third of your team," Bellamy said.

"We just seem to lose more players than any other club but we've got some good young guys in our system.

"We'll see what we've got preseason, and go again."

Storm officials are keen to re-sign Bellamy, who has one more year remaining on his contract, to a new long-term deal.

But Bellamy wants to enjoy the victory before he enters into any talks.

"I'll be here next year, no doubt. I've got a contract, and I won't be breaking that contract," Bellamy said.

"I'm not thinking about (any new deal) at the moment. I just want to enjoy this with the players."

The Storm eventually showed off the premiership trophy to their home fans following a heavily delayed flight from Sydney and 90 minutes later than originally scheduled.

Melbourne five-eighth Gareth Widdop also had another reason to celebrate, with partner Carley giving birth to a baby girl, Harper, just hours after the grand final win.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted October 01, 2012 17:24:38

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Bellamy praises Widdop for finals impact

Raman Goraya

Updated September 09, 2012 16:47:28

Melbourne's much-vaunted 'big three' could easily turn into a fantastic four for the remainder of the finals after the eye-catching efforts of five-eighth Gareth Widdop against Souths on Saturday night.

Coach Craig Bellamy singled out Widdop for praise after the Englishman had 16 tackles, three line breaks and two try assists as Melbourne exposed the Rabbitohs' weak right-edge defend in a clinical 24-6 qualifying final victory at AAMI Park.

The Storm will now enjoy a week off to prepare for a home preliminary final against either Manly or North Queensland, who clash on Friday night at Sydney Football Stadium.

Bellamy said his side was helped to an 18-0 half-time lead thanks to South Sydney's poor discipline, which helped the Storm dominate possession and field position.

But instead of using its much-vaunted right-hand side attack, which links half-back Cooper Cronk with bustling runners Sika Manu and Kevin Proctor, Bellamy said Widdop came into his own directing the Storm's left flank.

"I thought Gaz probably had his best game last night," Bellamy told Grandstand's The Hit-Up.

"He got a little bit of ball, a bit more than he does most games and we wanted to go down our left hand side. That is where Gaz is at his best," he added.

Bellamy was pleased Widdop could take the pressure of attacking linchpins Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cronk in a big game, but also praised his defensive efforts.

"He had a big focus on defence. He knew big Dave Taylor would be coming at him fairly often, and he did," Bellamy said.

"But he stood up tremendously well.

"His form, to be quite honest, has probably been a little bit indifferent," Bellamy added.

"But last night he was tremendous on both sides of the footy.

"It just goes to show what a special player he is and we'll need him to stand up again in two weeks."

Widdop sent Ryan Hoffman over for the first try after seven minutes, before a scrum-base move involving Slater saw Melbourne-born winger Mahe Fonua cross 17 minutes later.

Bellamy said the decision to attack through Widdop, back rower Hoffman and centre Dane Nielsen was not purely a a surprise tactic..

"Everyone was talking about our right-hand side all week up in Sydney," he said.

"That wasn't the only reason for going down our left side.

"We thought we were a good chance going down there the way they defended.

"Hoff has been in really good form and Dane Nielsen is really starting to find form as well."

Bellamy said Hoffman was given the all clear to play on by medical staff after appearing to suffer a concussion just minutes before scoring.

"If a trainer came off and said 'he is out on his feet or there is a problem' we certainly would have taken him off," he said.

"It scared me a bit when he got up and stumbled. But his head cleared and he was right to play on."

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted September 09, 2012 16:47:28

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Bellamy hopes Storm have turned corner

Updated August 07, 2012 20:22:33

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has challenged his troops to kick on after the Storm emphatically ended its worrying month-long slump.

Bellamy is hoping Melbourne's 46-6 dispatch of Penrith proves the catalyst for a late-season charge to the finals starting in four weeks.

The third-placed Storm host Gold Coast on Friday night and Bellamy says it is vital his side builds on last Saturday's eight-try rout.

"There's no guarantee just because we've won one game that things are going to fall back into place again like at the start of the season," he said.

"We've got to make it happen. After five losses, any win was a good win.

"We've had our down period and hopefully we can build from here."

Storm skipper Cameron Smith said Bellamy's pre-game blast was partially responsible for the Storm's boost, rating it "a seven out of 10".

Bellamy joked it was only worth a five, but admitted sometimes it was his job to give his players a spray.

"I don't do it just for the sake of it," he said.

"I didn't think it was too bad - you don't want to be going off like a maniac every training session or every week."

The win keeps the Storm two points behind second-placed South Sydney and contenders for an all-important top-four finals berth.

But as the Storm prepare for the Titans, Bellamy said the focus was on improving their attack.

He said his team played well for long periods against Penrith but there was still room for improvement.

Of the Titans, Bellamy said: "They're a good side and they've got some real pace and they've got a lot of flair about their game so we'll have to defend well."

The coach was cautiously optimistic about the Storm's prospects, with the sting of their losing streak still fresh.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted August 07, 2012 20:22:33

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Milking penalties tarnishes the game: Bellamy

Updated May 15, 2012 15:54:48

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has appealed to NRL players to stop staying down and milking penalties for head-high contact, saying it is a bad look and causes too many breaks in the game.

Bellamy will not be encouraging the competition leaders to follow Newcastle's lead after Knights' coach Wayne Bennett said he would tell his players to lay on the ground and force the video referee to make a call.

While Bennett says the Knights have had three players taken out in two weeks and received no penalties, Bellamy is urging his former mentor to play the game on its merits and leave the referees to do their job.

"I don't think there's any more high hits than there has been before and the referees are doing a pretty good job on it," Bellamy said.

"It's just a matter of us, or the players, trusting the officials and getting on with it.

"It (milking) is a really bad look for our game.

"Having a guy like Wayne Bennett come out and say he's going to tell his players to lay down, well that's not what our game's about either.

"If Wayne thinks it's getting that bad, we've got a bit of a worry.

"You can see it slowly but surely creeping into our game where people are staying down.

"The one thing good about our game compared to some other codes is it keeps flowing.

"If we're going to get people laying down, that's going to pull it up.

"If they start going to the video ref to see whether it was a high shot or not, that's more breaks in play."

Bellamy says he has raised the topic with his players a couple of years ago and they emphatically refused to lay down for minor contact.

"So I haven't really brought it up with them again. I suppose we will revisit that if it keeps going," he said.

"You've just got to come back to the players. If they get a bit of a hit up there but they're right to play on, play on.

"If they have to think about staying down, well they're not that badly hurt.

"When they cop one and they don't know where they're at, that's when they don't get up."

Meanwhile, Bellamy says the Storm did not work hard enough and were not switched on in attack in the loss to Cronulla, Melbourne's first defeat in 10 matches this season.

The Storm host the Broncos on May 25, two days after Game One of the State of Origin series.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, melbourne-3000

First posted May 15, 2012 15:54:48

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Slater could be right for round one: Bellamy

Updated December 20, 2011 21:32:00

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says the early signs are good that Billy Slater will be fit to play in round one of the NRL in March.

The star full-back and international player of the year suffered a broken collarbone during Australia's successful Four Nations campaign last month in England.

Slater and Storm's other key playmakers, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, are set to resume training on January 9.

The bulk of the squad will return from their Christmas break on January 2.

"He (Slater) has gone to Cairns for Christmas. He came in a couple of times before that," Bellamy said on Tuesday.

"He said the shoulder was feeling pretty good, the collar bone.

"They're reasonably happy with the way it's coming on, but it was a bad break so it will take a little time to get better again.

"Until he comes back and actually starts getting into a bit of training, we won't quite know how the body's adapting to that operation.

"We're very hopeful and we expect him to be right by March for round one (against Canberra).

"He has got a great (fitness) base so it won't take him too long to get back into good condition again to play."

Bellamy is also hopeful high-profile Storm supporter and music industry veteran Molly Meldrum will make a full recovery following a fall at his Melbourne home on Thursday.

Meldrum remains in an induced coma but his sedation levels were reduced overnight.

"It has been a pretty sombre club around here since Thursday night since we heard," Bellamy said.

"It sounds as though Molly is starting to come good and we're just so happy about that. We wish him all the best.

"He's just such an important person to our club.

"He goes out of his way to make sure he comes down after games, whether we've won or lost, to help lift the spirits when we've lost and to celebrate with us when we win.

"He's just such a great personality to have around."

AAP

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 20, 2011 21:32:00

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Bellamy continues Storm surge

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Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Broadcast: 19/06/2011

Craig Bellamy has been lauded as he continues Melbourne's recovery from the salary cap scandal.

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Interview: Craig Bellamy

Published:Sunday, June 5, 2011 5:53 AESTExpires:Saturday, September 3, 2011 5:53 AEST

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy told Grandstand's Craig Hamilton the Storm were never made to feel comfortable in their 16-6 win over South Sydney at the Olympic stadium.

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Media Call: Craig Bellamy

Published:Wednesday, June 1, 2011 4:09 AESTExpires:Tuesday, August 30, 2011 4:09 AEST

Storm coach Craig Bellamy says he is not a huge fan of an NRL proposal to move State of Origin games to Monday nights.

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Bellamy no fan of Monday Origin

Updated June 1, 2011 18:55:00

Former New South Wales coach and Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy is not fond of the idea of switching rugby league's State of Origin series to Monday nights.

The NRL is considering shifting Origin matches from 2012 onwards from their traditional Wednesday nights to earlier in the week and plans to discuss the possibility with broadcasters.

Bellamy has long been an outspoken critic on the timing of Origin due to the increased workload on key players who back up just a few days later in NRL fixtures, but he does not believe Monday is the answer.

"It doesn't matter to me what night they play it," said Bellamy at Storm training on Wednesday.

"My opinion has always been that it (Origin) should be a stand-alone weekend (with no NRL games).

"Hopefully the next TV agreement, we'll be able to do that."

Bellamy presented another idea, and that was to switch NRL games.

"A way would be if they didn't have club games on the Sunday and play them on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"That would give everyone eight or nine days."

Bellamy's call for stand-alone weekends has the support of Dr Ron Muratore, the NRL's chief medical officer.

Muratore said he had figures to back his belief.

"I've seen research from Europe on the Champions League which shows a higher number of injuries with short turnarounds," he said.

Player perspective

NSW captain Paul Gallen, who as a forward maintains one of the highest workrates and would benefit most from additional resting period, also pointed out that a Monday night fixture would rob each state of an extra two days of preparation.

"I don't really care - I'd play Origin whenever I can and if I've got to back up a day or two later, just do it," he said.

"It is hard on us but that's just what we do - you've just got to do.

"I don't know if that is the right answer for it ... you'll get a seven-day preparation rather than a nine or ten-day preparation.

"There's pros and cons to everything but I think we've just got to suck it up and play on."

Tigers winger Lote Tuqiri supported the Monday night proposal in principal, but only on a few conditions.

"A stand-alone game on a Monday? I think that would be welcomed if (the Origin players) don't have to play the round before," Tuqiri said.

"Origin is a massive game. You just get worked up from the week and you're using a lot of that energy during the week from you guys in the press and everything like that, so I think it would be a welcomed change."

-AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, state-of-origin, nsw, sydney-2000, qld, brisbane-4000, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted June 1, 2011 12:26:00

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Interview: Craig Bellamy

Published:Sunday, May 29, 2011 5:31 AESTExpires:Saturday, August 27, 2011 5:31 AEST

Storm coach Craig Bellamy told Grandstand's Steve Mascord that his side anticipated a tough clash against Cronulla in Melbourne's eventual 14-8 win at AAMI Park.

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