Craig Bellamy Considers Future as Melbourne Coach Ahead of Grand Final Clash

Melbourne Storm‘s coach, Craig Bellamy, has indicated that his tenure in first-grade coaching may only last a few more years. Bellamy, preparing for his record-equaling 10th NRL grand final against Penrith on Sunday, announced his 65th birthday to hundreds of fans gathered at the NRL grand final fan festival in Sydney‘s Circular Quay. Despite celebrating this milestone, Bellamy cautioned supporters about his limited time left in coaching, stating, “I’m not quite sure how long the fire’s going to burn, but at the end of the day, I don’t think I’ll see 70 out in footy.”

The coach, a former first grader for the Raiders, signed a one-year contract extension with the Storm in May. This agreement continues a series of 12-month extensions with the Melbourne franchise. Bellamy admitted that his motivation fluctuates. “Sometimes [the fire] probably isn’t burning that much, but you go through different stages during the year, but also year to year,” he explained.

On Thursday, Bellamy highlighted the importance of maintaining high standards for himself and those around him. He emphasized that it’s not just success or the players driving him but a sense of duty. “It’s a responsibility I’ve got, and I want to perform that responsibility as best I can, just like I expect from the players and everyone in our organization. At the end of the day, we just want them to do their jobs the best they can. And if I expect that from them, well, I’ve got to be doing that myself,” Bellamy remarked.

Additionally, earlier in the week, Bellamy humorously commented on his expressive coaching style, suggesting that he might give himself a heart attack due to his passion for the game. Recalling the 2020 grand final against Penrith, Bellamy joked about his memory, “I can’t remember what I did yesterday sometimes, so remember our last grand final? Yeah, I haven’t got many thoughts of that at all.”

This upcoming match marks Bellamy’s 10th grand final, tying the record held by 74-year-old Wayne Bennett, who will re-join South Sydney in 2025. Bellamy’s success with the Storm is widely admired across the league. Ivan Cleary, coach of the Panthers, admitted that Melbourne was the benchmark for him when rejuvenating Penrith’s success. “When we set our sights on becoming something, I’m very attracted to consistent professional sports teams,” Cleary said. “If you look across the world, and also the different team sports, I think Melbourne would stand up against anybody in terms of what they’ve been able to do for nearly 20 years.”

Bellamy began his coaching career with Melbourne in 2003, securing his first premiership in 2007, and continues to be a significant figure in Australian rugby league.