Craig Bellamy has put an end to speculation about his future in the NRL and confirmed he will stay on with the Melbourne Storm for another two years.
The future of the veteran coach has been a constant source of speculation in recent months, with his current deal set to expire at the end of this season.
Despite a bold attempt by the Gold Coast Titans to get him to make the move up north, along with rumours he could retire, Bellamy has chosen to stay put until the end of 2028.
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The 66-year-old, who is just one of four coaches in NRL history to surpass 600 games in the top job, admitted he would not have stayed on at the Storm if he did not feel he could continue contributing to the team and helping them succeed.
“Coaching the Melbourne Storm has always been a huge honour,” he said in a statement.
“I love this club and everything it represents, the people, our history and our fans.
Coach Craig Bellamy speaks to media. Getty
“I’ve always said I’ll only keep coaching if the club believes I can still contribute. Having that certainty for the next three years is reassuring and I’m looking forward to seeing how far we can continue to grow as a squad.
“I’m also excited to keep working with our coaching and performance staff, who make Storm such a great place to be.
“We’ve got an outstanding coaching group, who are very capable, and I’m looking forward to helping with their ongoing development.”
Craig Bellamy receives the game ball from Cameron Smith after coaching his 500th NRL game. Getty
Melbourne Storm chairman Matt Tripp labelled Bellamy as “one of the greatest coaches in rugby league history”, recognising him as the best fit for the top job.
The 2026 season will be Bellamy’s 23rd season in charge of the Storm.
“Craig continues to coach at the highest level, leading an exceptional group of coaches and performance staff who give him every opportunity to focus on developing our players and driving success,” Tripp said.
“Craig’s passion and determination are as strong as ever. He still has the energy and drive to take our team forward and help Melbourne Storm chase another Premiership.”
Bellamy will return to action with the Melbourne Storm on Saturday, February 21 for their pre-season challenge game against the Gold Coast Titans.