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\n Josh Hannay will start his first pre-season as Titans coach in early November. (Darren Pateman\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n
Gold Coast hope to know whether Craig Bellamy will coach the club in 2027 by early next month, before Josh Hannay begins his first pre-season in charge of the Titans.<\/p>\n
AAP revealed this week the Titans were still pursuing Bellamy to coach the club, despite signing Hannay on a three-year deal in August.<\/p>\n
It is understood plans are in place for Hannay to slide into an assistant’s role if Bellamy took charge at the Titans.<\/p>\n
\n Josh Hannay will start his first pre-season as Titans coach in early November. (Darren Pateman\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n
Bellamy is currently holidaying on the Gold Coast, where he also owns property. He also has links to the area via his daughter and her family.<\/p>\n
Talks between he and Gold Coast have been ongoing for some time, and it’s understood there was dialogue well before Hannay’s appointment in August.<\/p>\n
Conversations were put on hold through Melbourne’s finals campaign, but were always likely to kick off again once the Storm’s season finished.<\/p>\n
Hannay is understood to have been aware of the Titans’ interest in Bellamy throughout his negotiations with the Gold Coast, and thus agreed to the plan.<\/p>\n
There is also every chance he could take over again at the Titans after Bellamy’s stint there, if they landed the 66-year-old.<\/p>\n
AAP understands Gold Coast would ideally have the matter finalised by the time Hannay takes charge of his first pre-season, with some players returning from November 7.<\/p>\n
Melbourne would also no doubt like some certainty around Bellamy’s future, and whether he will remain coach there beyond his 24th season in charge next year.<\/p>\n
But the reality is, Bellamy has never been one to rush decisions through a career where he has coached the Storm to a record 11 grand finals.<\/p>\n
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\n Master coach Craig Bellamy will be in charge of the Storm for a 24th season in 2026. (Mark Evans\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n
His current five-year deal with Melbourne had a year-by-year option for him to trigger each March for the following season.<\/p>\n
But a decision was often made well after that, with Bellamy this year announcing in June that he would stay with the Storm in 2026.<\/p>\n
It is unlikely the master coach would find himself rushed into a decision by either party.<\/p>\n
The other factor at play is there no guarantee that Bellamy will want to coach for a 25th season in the NRL at either club, and instead move towards retirement.<\/p>\n
If that was the case, it’s likely both the Titans and Storm would be keen to have him in a consultancy role.<\/p>\n
Gold Coast CEO Steve Mitchell confirmed to AAP this week the club was interested in having Bellamy at the Titans in any capacity.<\/p>\n
“We are very excited to have Josh Hannay joining us as our head coach from 2026,” Mitchell said.<\/p>\n
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\n Titans CEO Steve Mitchell says the club would welcome Craig Bellamy in any capacity. (Darren England\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n
“All employee contractual arrangements remain strictly confidential, and as such we will not be making public comment.<\/p>\n
“We acknowledge Craig\u2019s exceptional coaching credentials and reputation within the game, and like many NRL clubs would welcome him and his family in any capacity.”<\/p>\n
If Bellamy is to stay at the Storm, a new contract would need to be agreed to, given his current deal ends following the 2026 season.<\/p>\n
If he decides to retire from coaching or move to Gold Coast, Melbourne could eye off Billy Slater or current assistant Marc Brentnall as his replacement.<\/p>\n
Slater has impressed during his four years as Queensland State of Origin coach, and his contract with the Maroons \u00a0expires at the end of next year.<\/p>\n
Hannay has been part of Slater’s coaching staff since he took over the Maroons in 2021.<\/p>\n