Andrew Johns reveals details of call that convinced Craig Bellamy to stay on with Storm

Andrew Johns has revealed the piece of advice that convinced Craig Bellamy to remain at the helm of the Storm for another season.

Andrew Johns convinced Craig Bellamy to go around again. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Andrew Johns has revealed the piece of advice that convinced Craig Bellamy to remain at the helm of the Storm for another season.

The Storm announced last week Bellamy had committed to coaching again in 2023. The 62-year-old is on a contract with the club that allows him to decide each season if he will continue coaching or move into a coaching director role.

After the agreement was announced Bellamy told News Corp he was actually about to hang up the coaching clipboard until he got an “out of the blue” phone call from Johns which changed his mind.

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Johns has now opened up on that call via his column in The Sydney Morning Herald.

He admitted that he was “surprised” to hear that his conversation with Bellamy had such a big impact, saying they aren’t really close and “only really speak when we bump into each other at the footy.”

But the Knights legend and eighth Immortal thought to offer up his opinion to Bellamy, whom he was once an assistant to for the Blues, a few weeks ago while he contemplated his future.

Johns revealed the “wise words” he once received that he passed onto Bellamy that ended up leaving a lasting impression: “Play until you’ve had a gutful. Then have one more year.”

Johns once worked alongside Bellamy with NSW.

Johns is glad he picked up the phone because he believes Bellamy is “in the top three coaches of all time” alongside Jack Gibson and Wayne Bennett.

“Bellyache has got so much more to offer the game and his club... and (he) hasn’t finished yet,” Johns wrote.

“His genius is shown in the way the Storm have evolved over the years to fit the players they have.

“They’ve lost champions but still managed to stay at the top through smart recruitment but mostly great coaching.

“They don’t suffer from the same hangover most clubs have when they lose a superstar.

“I sense a genuine motivation for him would be winning one last premiership before giving it away.

“The way I see it, his team is the only one that can challenge Penrith, provided his players remain fit.”

Originally published as Andrew Johns reveals details of call that convinced Craig Bellamy to stay on with Storm