Win or no, Bellamy to mull re-signing

WIN or lose, the NRL grand final will not impact whether Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy stays with the Storm after his contract expires at the end of next season.

The premiership-winning coach has guided the Storm to a seventh decider since taking charge of the Victorian club in 2003.

He turns 59 next week and said yesterday’s result against North Queensland would have no bearing on whether he continues in the NRL beyond 2018.

“I don’t think it would but, having said that, let’s see what happens,” Bellamy said. “I can’t guarantee it would influence me in any way.”

Melbourne chairman Bart Campbell last week said the club wanted Bellamy to stay but would wait until the offseason to talk with him, out of respect for the coach’s focus on the finals campaign.

Bellamy was ambivalent about finalising his future before the new season kicks off in March, or have the saga drag into the opening rounds, which could prove a distraction.

“I haven’t thought about it at all. I don’t know when talks will happen,” he said.

“I have just wanted to concentrate on the end of the season on Sunday and then after that, I’ll be looking forward to having a rest.”

Asked whether he wanted a 17th season in charge of the Storm, Bellamy said: “Like I said ... I’ll have some time to see how I feel and see what the plans for the club are.

“There’s a few things to consider and I haven’t had time to consider any of those.

“I’m not quite sure when I’ll be ready. But I know it will be well after the season finishes.”

Campbell also has a few loose ends to tie up on the playing front, with captain Cameron Smith off-contract at the end of 2018.

Teammate Billy Slater’s deal ends this year and he has yet to make a decision on his future.

The other member of the “big three”, Cooper Cronk, is leaving the Storm after the grand final to live in Sydney with his fiancee Tara Rushton.