Craig Bellamy reveals he will continue NRL career and coach the Melbourne Storm in 2024

Craig Bellamy has ended months-long speculation about his coaching future at the Storm - and revealed it was the actions of star five-eighth that dragged him back from retirement.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has revealed that a pep talk from Cameron Munster a couple of weeks ago helped convince him to return for a 22nd year at the helm of the Storm.

Bellamy ended months of speculation over his future on Sunday night when he informed Storm chair Matt Tripp of his decision to continue coaching next season.

Bellamy acknowledged that he was ready to retire two months ago but was convinced to change his mind after speaking to various people, including his star five-eighth.

“It took me a little while to make a decision to be honest,” Bellamy said.

“Six or eight weeks ago I was pretty certain I would be packing things up. I spoke to a few people I know who have retired from different jobs and they spoke about the connection they have with people they see at work every day and that sometimes you miss that.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy and Cameron Munster. Picture: AAP

“Munster also came to me a couple of weeks ago and he said the players and leaders were keen for me to stay and thought I still had something to give the group.

“I still enjoy turning up and mixing with the group and staff. Early in your career, it can be a little bit about yourself but now it’s about our group improving as individuals, and if we improve as individuals we will improve as a team.

“Obviously we have a young crop and some of the guys we bought in have taken a while to adapt to our club, which often happens.

“But I am excited about how much improvement we have in us as a footy team and being consistent as a footy team.

Munster managed to talk Bellamy out of retirement. Picture: Getty

“To come down here and be here as long as I have, has been a pleasure to be honest. We’re in a different situation to all other NRL teams because we’re not in a NRL town.

“People like John Ribot, Chris Anderson, Mick Moore and Greg Brentnall set a wonderful foundation for our club. We have a caring club - all the people in the organisation really care about what the club stands for and are all supportive of each other.

“Our members and fans are as patriotic as any supporters I’ve seen in any club I’ve been involved with. They really turn up and they love the footy team. It seems to be a very important part of their life.

“I’ll never forget when we went through salary cap issues, and the week leading into the first game I didn’t think anyone would turn up given what had happened that week. I think we had 30,000 people there and that proved to me that they are really loyal to this footy team, and I’d like to think we are loyal to them as well.”

Craig Bellamy will be back to coach the Storm in 2024. Picture: Jason Edwards

Bellamy’s decision means St George Illawarra will now have a free run at Sydney Roosters assistant coach Jason Ryles, who had been widely touted as the favourite to take over from the three-time premiership winner at the Storm.

The Dragons are expected to hold further talks with Ryles’ camp on Monday as they edge towards a decision on the future of current coach Anthony Griffin.

The club has a board meeting on Tuesday where they are expected to confirm that Griffin will leave at season’s end. If things go to plan, the Dragons could be in position to confirm Ryles as his replacement at that board meeting.

If things go to plan, the Dragons could be in position to confirm Ryles as his preferred replacement at that board meeting.

The Storm have no such concerns after Bellamy resolved any lingering questions over his future. The Melbourne coach has a rolling five-year agreement with Melbourne which gives him until March to inform the club whether he plans to do so the following year.

Tripp gave Bellamy extra time to make a final call and his patience has paid off after the Storm mentor confirmed he would continue.

“He is one of the all time great coaches in our game and I think the big winner in all of this is not only the people at the Melbourne Storm - our players, our members , our sponsors - but the game at large,” Tripp said.

‘I think we are really lucky to have Craig continuing on to front a prominent NRL club in our game. It just bodes well for everything the game stands for. He is a unique individual who has been given a god given talent and there is no-one happier than me that he is going to exploit that talent for another 12 months.

“I have spoken the truth in this process right up until I got the answer. I think being asked the question eight weeks ago, I answered truthfully that I thought this year would be his last. Two or three weeks ago I wasn’t so sure.”

Tripp wasn’t the only one who harboured doubts over whether Bellamy would go again - the coach indicated in an interview with NRL360 in late-February that he was ready to hand the bat to another coach

Roosters assistant coach Jason Ryles.

Fortunately for Melbourne, Bellamy has changed his mind as he provides some certainty for the club over the remaining weeks of this season and heading into next.

His decision will be music to the ears of Dragons officials and supporters as well as they pursue Ryles.

St George Illawarra have lost six straight games and the day is fast approaching when they make a definitive call on Griffin. Ryles, having served an apprenticeship in Melbourne, the Sydney Roosters and with English rugby union, is their preferred option to take over at the end of the season and discussions are expected to heat up as early as Monday.

Originally published as Craig Bellamy reveals he will continue NRL career and coach the Melbourne Storm in 2024