Storm to offer coach Bellamy rich extension
THE Storm will table Craig Bellamy a $3 million upgrade in a bid to ward off advances from NRL rivals.
Melbourne hierarchy will open discussions with Bellamy to extend his tenure in the wake of the club’s title win.
Next year will be Bellamy’s 16th season in charge of the Storm juggernaut and the final of his current deal.
Bellamy will be one of the NRL’s hottest coaches on the open market in 2019, but Melbourne powerbrokers are keen to lock him up with a new three-year deal.
“We will begin talks with him now that the season is over,” Storm CEO Dave Donaghy said.
“He is contracted for next season but we want to go beyond that.
“The whole organisation loves Craig. He is the best in the business and we are going to work bloody hard to make sure he stays around longer.”
Bellamy, who turned 58 yesterday, proved he is still at the top of his game by piloting Melbourne to one of the most dominant seasons in history.
He was named Dally M coach-of-the-year after the Storm only lost four games on their way to claiming the minor premiership before blowing the Cowboys away in last Sunday’s grand final. Melbourne has made seven grand finals, and won four, since his tenure started in 2003.
Meanwhile, Storm fullback Billy Slater has confirmed he will play on in 2018. Slater, 34, last night confirmed News Corp reports that he would sign a one-year deal at the Storm’s end-of-season awards.