NRL heavyweights hold entire competition to ransom over contract silence

NRL heavyweights Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy have the league holding its breath as their futures plunge into murky territory.

Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy.

NRL heavyweights Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy have the league right where they want it.

The futures of the two highest-profile coaches in rugby league have reportedly taken intriguing turns, leaving the entire competition to hold its breathe while their murky contract discussions play out.

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It emerged on Friday Cronulla has been deep in talks with Bellamy for more than six months.

The Daily Telegraph first reported The Sharks had joined the Broncos and Storm in trying to lock the veteran mentor down in a coaching director role beyond 2021.

The 61-year-old coaching legend has long been linked to a move to the Brisbane Broncos as he wants to be closer to his grandchildren on the Gold Coast — but he confirmed over the weekend a move to Sydney is also in the mix.

The Storm could lose both of the club’s key pillars.

The Daily Telegraph reports South Sydney have now been tossed into the same messy situation as the Storm with Bennett also being courted to stay on beyond the 2021 season in a coaching director role while Rabbitohs assistant coach — and long-term Bennett disciple — Jason Demetriou takes over as head coach.

The Rabbitohs’ situation is made even more precarious by reports Bennett, 71, is still interested in coaching and remains linked as a possible marquee signing for an eventual 17th NRL club to be based in Brisbane.

The report claims Bennett has put-off contract talks with the Rabbitohs until June as he weighs-up his options.

The old fox is still a coaching magician.

After leading Queensland to a monster upset in State of Origin this year, his stocks as one of the best coaches in the game’s history have rarely been higher.

Bellamy, meanwhile, is also one of the hottest commodities in the NRL after revealing he would walk away from the Storm head coaching role at the end of the 2021 season.

It creates a three-way battle for Bellamy, with the Broncos floating a 10-year deal to get him to the club while the Storm are confident that Bellamy will stay with the Storm.

The Sharks currently have a reported $5 million in salary cap space at the end of next season, while current coach John Morris has yet to be re-signed.

It points to a relatively blank canvas for someone like Bellamy to make a huge mark on the club.

With another title in 2020 and the Storm perennial title contenders, it’s no wonder everyone wants a piece of Bellamy.