‘He’ll be really good’: Jesse Bromwich endorses Billy Slater for Storm coaching gig

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy could step down from his post this season and a club legend is in the frame to take the reins.

Billy Slater could take the reins at the Storm when Craig Bellamy steps down. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Co-captain Jesse Bromwich has thrown his support behind club legend Billy Slater to succeed Craig Bellamy as coach of the Melbourne Storm.

Bellamy signed a contract extension last year that will keep him at the Storm until 2026, but the 62 year-old has the option to transition out of the head coaching role from the end of this season.

The Storm has yet to announce whether Bellamy will continue on as head coach in 2023, but speculation has already begun as to who could replace the super coach if he chose to step down.

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Slater, one of the so-called “big three” players vital to the Storm’s success in the 2000s and 2010s, has emerged as a contender to take the reins.

Despite not having coached an NRL club before, Slater has been appointed Queensland’s head coach for this year’s State of Origin series and became known for his high football IQ during his playing days.

He has also forged a successful career as an analyst for Channel 9 since hanging up the boots in 2018.

Billy Slater (left) is being tipped to take over from Craig Bellamy (right) as the Melbourne Storm coach. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Co-captain Bromwich on Wednesday said players would jump at the chance to be coached by his dual premiership teammate.

“I’ve never seen anyone so passionate about our game and someone like Billy Slater as coach of this club, how good would that be?” he said.

“Whether that’s now or in a few years time I’m not too sure, but I’ll be really excited if that was to happen one day.”

Bromwich said Slater would make a smooth transition into coaching.

“When he was a player, it felt like he was a coach anyway at this club; he was so vocal and he’s got so much knowledge about the game and I think he’ll be a really good coach,” Bromwich said.

“He’s just really committed to the game and he just really loves the game.”

Jesse Bromwich says Slater would be a great coach. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Queensland Rugby League on Tuesday unveiled Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Josh Hannay as Slater’s assistant coaches for this year’s Origin series.

Smith and Slater played together for 15 years at the Storm and were joined by Thurston at state and national levels.

Hannay, meanwhile, is the only member of the quartet with head coaching experience.

He took the reins as interim coach of the Cowboys in 2020 but enjoyed more success at Cronulla, where he took on the same role last season.

After the Sharks sacked John Morris early in 2021, Hannay guided the Sharks to within an inch of the finals.

Originally published as ‘He’ll be really good’: Jesse Bromwich endorses Billy Slater for Storm coaching gig