Craig Bellamy contract: Seven reasons Cronulla Sharks must sign super coach

Cronulla stars are desperately hoping Melbourne super coach Craig Bellamy will shock rugby league by joining the Shire club.

Respect. Aura. Success. Culture. Discipline. Professionalism. Humility.

These are the seven key reasons why former Cronulla stars are desperately hoping Melbourne super coach Craig Bellamy will shock rugby league by joining the Sharks from next season.

The Sunday Telegraph revealed that the Sharks and Bellamy had been locked in secret negotiations for six months (full story below) about the Melbourne coach joining Cronulla as a coaching director.

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Bellamy now has three options for 2022 – stay at Melbourne, join Cronulla or sign with Brisbane.

Ex-Sharks champions contacted by The Daily Telegraph were unanimous in their untied push for the club to surge forward and sign Bellamy.

And each outlined why and how Bellamy could transform Cronulla into an NRL powerhouse.

Matty Johns is a former Cronulla player — he played 21 games in 2002 — who is close mates with Bellamy.

“To varying degrees, every club would be interested in Craig Bellamy because of what he puts in place,” Johns said.

“The bottom line is, look what he has done at Melbourne — $200,000 players play like $500,000 players. He puts discipline into the joint and improves players. He would be a perfect fit no matter where he went.”

Matty Johns says Craig Bellamy will make a huge impact wherever he goes. Picture: Colleen Petch

Former Sharks, NSW and Australian forward Robbie Kearns — who lives in Melbourne after his stint with the Storm — said Bellamy even had the ability to succeed in AFL.

“No matter where Craig Bellamy goes, he would turn a club around pretty much overnight,” Kearns said.

“He could turn the bottom-placed AFL team around to win half their games the following year, just by getting them to believe in themselves, even without knowing anything about the game.

“A lot of AFL people here in Melbourne ask me why Craig is so good? He knows the game so well, he presents very well and he has a real care for his players. Craig provides the best platform for players to reach their potential.

Former Shark Jason Stevens says Bellamy has an aura about him and would be great for attracting players and sponsors to Cronulla.

Former Shark Jason Stevens says Bellamy has an aura about him and would be great for attracting players and sponsors to Cronulla.

“What would he bring to Cronulla? All of the above along with a winning culture. He just brings the best out of players. He is all about work ethic, humility, selfless acts and respect.”

Sharks legend Jason Stevens also lavished praise on Bellamy, the former NSW coach and Canberra Raiders centre.

“There is an aura around Craig Bellamy. He would be very welcome at Cronulla from an ex-player point of view,” Stevens said.

“There are only a few that have been in the game for so, so long with that proven track record, that is appealing for sponsors and players from other clubs. There is a respect and aura about his presence.

“When you hear blokes like Cameron Smith, who is the best we have ever seen, continually praise him then that means a lot. Praise from players means more than anything, I’ve got to say.

“You would never say no to someone with that much experience and success, and the culture that he brings.

“That’s not saying anything about the current culture because John Morris has done a great job on the back of Shane Flanagan. It’s no reflection on them. They all bring a lot. If someone like Craig was available, you would obviously entertain the idea as much as possible.”

Storm coach Craig Bellamy has Gatorade poured over him after winning the 2020 NRL grand final.

Craig Greenhill, the former Cronulla and Queensland hardman, was equal in his praise of Bellamy.

“Bellamy brings a lot of respect to a club, a lot of respect to the team, he gets the team to respect each other and respect the game,” Greenhill said.

“And they respect hard work and they get results. He gets the best out of his players on a small budget. I think he would also bring a level of professionalism the club hasn’t see for a long time.

“Everyone thinks they are performing at a certain level but then, all of a sudden, someone outside your circle comes in and tweaks a thing here and there – and you can go to another level.”’’

HOW WE BROKE THE EXCLUSIVE

- David Riccio, Phil Rothfield

Cronulla have been in secret talks for six months to sign Craig Bellamy in a major bombshell that will shock the code.

The Sharks have blindsided both Bellamy’s current club Melbourne and leading rival the Brisbane Broncos in a stunning bid to sign the supercoach.

In a major Sunday Telegraph exclusive, it can be revealed the Sharks have tabled Bellamy a four-year deal to become the club’s director of football.

Viewed by many as the greatest coach of all-time, the plan for Bellamy would be to see out the final year of his contract as head coach of the Storm this season before linking with the Sharks to oversee their entire football structure from 2022.

In a media statement last night after The Sunday Telegraph broke the story, the Sharks said: “We can confirm meetings have been ongoing between the Sharks, Craig Bellamy and his advisors in relation to a potential coaching director role at our club from 2022 onwards.

“Until there is more to report, the Sharks will be making no further comment.”

See below a statement from CEO Dino Mezzatesta in response to media reports relating to the Cronulla Sharks and Craig Bellamy#UpUp pic.twitter.com/nY4TuIN9uz

— Cronulla Sharks (@Cronulla_Sharks) February 13, 2021

The 61-year-old confirmed to The Sunday Telegraph that he had been in long-term talks with a Sydney club but refused to reveal it was the Sharks.

Asked about his future, Bellamy said: “There’s a Sydney club, but I can’t name them. They’ve done a really good job to keep it secret.

“I’ve been talking to them for as long as the Broncos offer has been there. It’s a serious option.”

Asked specifically about Cronulla: “Well, it’s a really nice place. Honestly I can’t say anything. I’ve had a bit on my plate but I’ll make a decision soon.”

Waving goodbye? Craig Bellamy says a move to Sydney is a “serious option”.

The Sharks have held-off re-signing current coach John Morris due to the delicate negotiation phase and obvious priority of trying to lure one of the biggest names in rugby league.

Cronulla are cognisant of the immediate impact Bellamy’s arrival would have on potential sponsors and recruitment targets, particularly as the club approaches the availability of almost $5 million in salary cap space to spend at the end of this season.

Rated one of the greatest NRL coaches of all time, Bellamy would be charged with overseeing the club’s entire football and recruitment structure, with the freedom to also work with the club’s corporate and commercial division — an area that few would realise the premiership-winning coach is interested in exploring.

Cronulla’s Nene MacDonald celebrates a try during a recent trial match.

How Cronulla have managed to become a major contender and in the fight to execute one of the game’s greatest heists is extraordinary.

Similar to their stealth-like pursuit of Dragons captain Cameron McInnes, the Sharks management, led by CEO Dino Mezzatesta and chair Steve Mace, have been working since last July to secure Bellamy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has played havoc with Bellamy’s ability to visit the Shire with the majority of dialogue being held over the phone.

Keeping any story in rugby league secret for six months, particularly one as significant as this, is unheard of.

And it’s that level of respect from the Sharks, to resist leaking their pursuit of the NRL’s greatest mentor to the press, which has undeniably played a major role in Cronulla remaining in the battle for his signature.

Given his status as one the game’s greatest coaches, Bellamy’s signature would rank as the most high-profile coaching appointment in the Sharks’ 53-year history — including that of former supercoach Jack Gibson in 1985.

Sharks coach John Morris speaks with his players.

Bellamy had made it clear the 2021 season would be his final year as head coach of the Storm, which led to the Broncos and Melbourne each formulating an expensive plan for him to transition into a coaching director’s role.

After appointing first-time NRL coach Kevin Walters, the Broncos are determined to lure Bellamy as a mentor back to Red Hill, where he began his coaching career as an assistant coach.

The Storm are also confident that Bellamy will remain involved at the club where he has enjoyed a deep emotional attachment and so many wonderful memories of on-field success for almost 20 years.

But after taking Melbourne to the finals in 17 of the past 18 seasons, the Sharks are hoping Bellamy is eager for a new and different career path.