NRL 2021: Craig Bellamy set to reject Broncos, stay loyal to Storm
Brisbane have chased Craig Bellamy three times and three times they have lost out … now they’re set to miss out yet again.
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Melbourne are set to land a knockout blow on the Broncos with the premiers increasingly confident of staving off a Brisbane poaching bid for Storm super coach Craig Bellamy.
The Courier-Mail understands Broncos bosses are privately resigned to missing out on Bellamy — for a fourth time — as the 62-year-old prepares for his 19th consecutive campaign with defending premiers the Storm.
While the Broncos won the battle for the signature of Storm CEO Dave Donaghy on Wednesday, Melbourne are likely to win the ultimate war by convincing Bellamy to once again reject Brisbane’s overtures.
Bellamy has previously knocked back the Broncos three times, most recently in 2018 when Brisbane opted for a Plan B coaching appointment in Anthony Seibold, and he is currently weighing up a move to Queensland.
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Bellamy has told Melbourne bosses he is considering a move to the Sunshine State at season’s end for personal reasons, with the off-contract Storm coach having family ties on the Gold Coast.
That stance opened the door for the Broncos, who are prepared to a broker a 10-year, lifetime contract for Bellamy to operate as Brisbane’s cultural chief supporting head coach Kevin Walters.
Broncos officialdom held talks with Bellamy last September and were initially supremely confident of finally getting their man, but after failing to advance dialogue in the past three months, Brisbane have reached a stalemate.
Even if Bellamy relocates to Queensland later this year, the Storm believe they can broker an arrangement that enables the premiership-winning coach to remain loyal to Melbourne in a consultancy capacity.
The prospect of missing out on Bellamy would be a major setback for Brisbane, who were banking on the Storm super coach’s ruthless work ethic to bring a hard edge to the embattled Broncos.
Bellamy rates Melbourne’s 2020 premiership win as one of his greatest feats in rugby league and it has only reinforced his 19-year bond to a Storm club that will fight tooth-and-nail to stave off the Broncos.
Broncos board member Darren Lockyer said Brisbane had yet to receive any official word from Bellamy a month out from the 2021 premiership.
“The ball is in Craig’s court,” he said.
“There are a few options out there for Craig.
“We just need to wait and see what direction he wants to go.
“We approached him last year about what his future looks like after his contract finishes in Melbourne.
“I know Craig and he will want to focus on getting the best out of his team this year.
“A lot of clubs are in the same boat, waiting to see what he wants to do.”
In an interview with News Corp last month, Bellamy admitted it would be difficult to walk away from the Storm. He also revealed he had gone cold on negotiating with rival NRL clubs such as the Broncos.
“I’ve been here a long time and I’ve seen a lot of players come and go and a lot of ups and downs, so it’s been a great ride and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity Storm gave me at the start but also sticking with me through 19 years,” he said.
“If we do cut ties it would feel a little bit strange I’d imagine, but life goes on.
“I haven’t really spoken to any other clubs for a while now. I decided just before the semis (finals) last year that I was going to park that.
“I’ve had a bit of a break now so within the next few weeks I’d imagine I’ll probably start thinking about it again and then we’ll see what happens from there.”
Storm chairman Matt Tripp warned Brisbane last year he was ready to slug it out for Bellamy’s signature.
“I would love for Craig to remain at the club in some capacity (beyond 2021),” he said.
“Ideally that’s as head coach, but if it’s not head coach, I will do my best to design a role that will hopefully see him want to stay at the Melbourne Storm.
“I don‘t think he will be head coach (in 2022) but he might stay with us if we have another role for him.
“I‘m sure the Broncos are confident of getting him and that’s fine, I’m up for the fight. But we’ll get the gloves on and I’m hopeful he will stay with Melbourne.
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