Switching to idle not an option for Bellamy

ASK any NRL coach and they will tell you they never switch off. They wake up in the middle of the night with their brain going a million miles an hour.

For Craig Bellamy, his job takes up a staggering 90 hours of his week, as he tries to defy history and propel Melbourne to back-to-back NRL titles.

The minimum 12-hour days will likely stretch out to 14 hours this week as a top-ofthe-table clash looms with second-placed South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

Before earning the mantle as one of the game’s greatest coaches, Bellamy got there by being one of the most thorough.

Showing extraordinary passion and endurance, Bellamy works seven days a week for the entire NRL season – from January until October.

“I’ve got a pretty good work ethic – that’s probably my biggest strength,” Bellamy said.

“It can vary but there’s not many days that aren’t 12-hour days. It’s a time-consuming job if you do it properly.”

And Bellamy does things properly. He does reviews and previews, cuts up footage from games, watches video on his opposition, delivers team talks, organises group chats with his on-field units – left side, right, middles, halves and kickers, as well as individual meetings.

He spends hours analysing, training and lower grades, meets with his assistant coaches, strength and conditioning staff and medical people, gets updates on recruitment and retention, discusses the salary cap with CEO Dave Donaghy and the Storm’s list manager, as well as juggling media and sponsorship commitments.

“It is a long week,” he said.