NRL News: Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy spoke to NSW officials about Blues job before Michael Maguire
Before Michael Maguire was appointed as the NSW Origin coach, Blues hierarchy made their pitch to Melbourne supercoach Craig Bellamy. Here’s why he knocked them back.
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Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has revealed that he spoke to NSW officials about the vacant Blues job but turned down the chance to be considered for the role because he wanted to put all his energy into leading the Storm back to the promised land in what could be his final season in charge.
Bellamy has also backed the decision to appoint former Storm assistant Michael Maguire, who was charged with reviving NSW fortunes after a four-week search for a successor to Brad Fittler.
Bellamy was believed to be in the Blues’ sights at one point and the three-time premiership winning coach confirmed he had more than one conversation with NSW officials before deciding that he needed to focus on Melbourne after a difficult and disappointing year.
NSW eventually plumped for Maguire and they will take a heavy Melbourne flavour into next year’s series – Maguire spent several years at the Storm while Blues assistant coaches Matt King and Brett White played for the club.
Only John Cartwright has no connection with the Storm.
“I spoke to them a couple of times,” Bellamy said.
“I just wanted to concentrate on what I am doing this year and that was about it really. It is a very privileged position. I am sure Madge will do a good job.
“It is interesting that all of his coaches except for John Cartwright have been here. So there is a bit of purple in the NSW side this year.
“I like having Carty there – he is an experienced guy. I know Kingy and know Whitey really well – they are good guys and good coaches.
“He has some terrific people in there. We will see how he goes against Billy (Slater) and the boys.”
Bellamy is yet to decide whether he will coach next year but conceded at this stage, it was likely to be his last season. Then again, he felt the same way 12 months ago but opted to continue in 2024.
Meanwhile, Bellamy has revealed that he spent time with Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou and his Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta on a recent fact-finding mission to England, Ireland and Paris.
Bellamy and Storm head of football Frank Ponissi spent five days in London, lunching with Tottenham boss Postecoglou and then meeting Arteta, who has taken the Gunners to the top of the Premier League.
Bellamy and Postecoglou knew each other from their time together in Melbourne but the Storm coach was meeting Arteta for the first time. He walked away impressed by the Arsenal boss, who takes time out during the day to slow down his mind with meditation.
“We went into his office for an hour talking to him,” Bellamy said.
“Then they had a function for their staff that afternoon and they invited us to that. He was good, a real good fella.”
Bellamy and Ponissi also caught up with former England captain Andy Farrell, who is now the head coach of Ireland rugby union.
MELBOURNE CLINCH BRADY
Sydney and Brisbane have both lost out in the fight for Tom Brady. Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, is coming to Australia in January but it is understood he will now make only one appearance – at Crown in Melbourne on January 27.
Remarkably, tickets for the event have been snapped up at a rapid rate despite the hefty prices. Sunday Sesh understands that “touchdown” seating has been going for $3,000 and includes platinum seating for the event as well as a photo opportunity with Brady, a copy of his book and a signed poster.
Gold seating at the Palladium at Crown goes for $149 while the cheapest tickets – silver – have been snapped up for $99. Sydney and Brisbane were locked in a battle to secure Brady to appear at Suncorp Stadium or Allianz Stadium.
SILVER FINISH FOR MCGRATHS
Glenn McGrath was one of the legends honoured at the SCG Life Member induction last week, but it was his youngest daughter Madison and wife Sara Leonardi-McGrath who brought the glamour.
Madison and her mum wore matching silver outfits to the special dinner on the field, standing out in what was a star-studded crowd.
Former ARL supremo Ken Arthurson might be 94 on paper, but looked decades younger and shared the night with his family and friends, including Peter Peters, John Quayle, Geoff Carr, Colin Love and Geoff Bellew, whose father Tom was Arko’s predecessor as NSWRL chairman.
At Michael O’Loughlin’s table, fellow club champions Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh and Ben Mathews were by his side.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson and Swans coach John Longmire attended, as did Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh, Australian Cricketers Association CEO Todd Greenberg and football great Mark Bosnich.
RAVI TOSSED UP FOR PERTH
Indian spin bowling legend Ravi Shastri has become the King of the coin toss and he is set to bring his unique talents to Australia as part of Fox Cricket’s commentary team.
Shastri will be involved in Fox Cricket’s coverage of the first Test against Pakistan in Perth, where he is expected to take charge of the coin toss after his star turn at the cricket World Cup.
TUBBY SPITTING FIRE FOR DRAGONS
Former Australian cricket captain and lifelong Dragons fan Mark Taylor has begun his work with the leadership team at St George-Illawarra after addressing the senior members of the playing group on Friday.
To say they walked away impressed would be an understatement.
“He was outstanding,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.
“He spoke to about eight or nine players. They haven’t stopped talking about it. I have been doing this stuff for 30 years and you can get guest speakers in – sometimes it hits the mark and sometimes it doesn’t – but this was probably one of the best I have been too.
“He speaks on their level. He is a player, has been a captain. When (Allan) Border captained them they changed a few things and had to start winning.
“Obviously Tubby (Taylor) continued that on and taught them how to win. He spoke to them about dealing with all the superstars he had in that side – especially blokes like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath – and how he dealt with them.
“The boys loved it.”
Emerging leader Hame Sele said hearing from Taylor was invaluable.
“He was explaining to us what he went through,” Sele said.
“The way he captained the team. Just learning leadership skills from him was really good. I know a lot of the boys took a lot out of it. I did too.
“It was pretty cool to be part of that leadership group and meet Mark Taylor.”
Flanagan approached Taylor – as well as former captain Mark Coyne – when he was first appointed to help mentor the club’s leadership group.
Last week was the first chance Taylor had to attend training and address the players. Flanagan hopes it will be the first of many.
“He told a good story about when he got made captain he went and saw the batting coach, he went and saw the bowling coach, he went and saw the fielding coach,” Flanagan said.
“He had all these meetings and went out and got two ducks. The message there was with leadership, you still have to worry about your own performance.
“Those types of messages were outstanding.”
TO NEWY FOR TAHNEE
NSW-based NRLW premiers Newcastle could be turning to the current Queensland Origin coach to maintain their title rage next season.
Sunday Sesh can reveal Queensland Origin women’s coach Tahnee Norris is on a shortlist of candidates to take charge of the high-flying Knights in 2024.
Norris signed an extension in October to coach the female Maroons for another two years and the Queensland Rugby League will not stand in the way of the Jillaroos legend holding dual roles.
Newcastle’s NRLW coaching position has been vacated after Ronald Griffiths steered the Knights to premiership glory last season before quitting to oversee the club’s NSW Cup side.
Norris is one of the greats of the women’s game. Born in the NSW country town of Orange, Norris played a record 32 Tests for the Jillaroos, appeared in four World Cups, captained Australia and represented both NSW and Queensland as a player.
That experience could be a huge asset for Newcastle’s NRLW champions, especially after Norris guided the Maroons to Origin victory last season.
The Knights are also assessing other candidates, but they won’t lose out if Norris clinches the job.
PHINS UP FOR LUAI
Jarome Luai hasn’t always been popular north of the border but he now has plenty of fans at the Dolphins after making a surprise appearance at St Marys on Friday night.
Luai turned up to watch an under-15 game between the Dolphins and Penrith, and bumped into Dolphins recruitment guns Peter O’Sullivan and Matt Hartigan after the game was over.
He then stayed behind to pose for photos and sign autographs for the Dolphins players.
We’re told he fulfilled every request as the Dolphins players celebrated a big win over the Panthers by spending some time with one of the game’s genuine superstars.
Luai is currently weighing up his future as he decides whether to stay at Penrith or take the big money on the table at the Wests Tigers and Bulldogs.
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