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Blues skipper Kurt Gidley has pleaded for coach Craig Bellamy to be retained at NSW helm after his side renewed lost pride in their jersey with a 28-16 State of Origin upset.
After denying Queensland a rare clean sweep in a dramatic series finale at Suncorp Stadium, the Newcastle fullback insisted Bellamy was undoubtedly the best man for the job.
Gidley jumped in at the post-match press conference as Bellamy was answering whether he would continue in the job after two series defeats.
“From the players’ point of view, and being a captain for the first time with Belly, I’ve enjoyed all three camps,” he said.
“And I think there wouldn’t be a better man for the job, the way we finished this series, for Belly to coach us again next year.
“I’d love to see him there.”
Bellamy has reserved his decision to reapply for the top coaching post, but sounded more like a man who was likely to focus solely on his club duties with the Melbourne Storm in 2010.
After praising a spiteful win filled with plenty of spirit and toughness, he said “hopefully they can go further” in future series.
“It’s really nice to win tonight but there’s still an empty feeling there from the first two games,” Bellamy said.
“I don’t think tonight will make a huge heap of difference in the decision I make. I just need some time to think about things now and go from there.
“But at the same time everyone’s asking me about what I’m going to do and I’ve lost two series as coach so NSW might not want me there.
“It’s not my decision.”
Bellamy, taken aback by Gidley’s sentiments, which he also passed on privately after the four-tries-to-three win, threw support behind suggestions NSW should enlist a veteran Origin coach such as the retired Phil Gould or Queenslander Wayne Bennett.
“That’s nice and Kurt told me that before in a private moment,” he said.
“It’s nice to have the support of the players but I have to do what’s right for myself and NSW.
“There’s other guys out there that would benefit from having a guy who knows Origin better than me, guys like Phil Gould and Wayne Bennett.
“I don’t know if they would take the job on … but those guys if they made themselves available it would be a real good step for NSW.”
NSW’s no-holds-barred victory, to end a four-match losing streak, was marred by the 79th-minute banishment of second-rower Trent Waterhouse, the first Blues player to be sent off in 30 years of Origin rugby league.
Waterhouse copped a grade one contrary conduct charge after the match which would see him miss his next match for Penrith if he is found guilty or accepts an early guilty plea.
The match review committee believed the Panthers forward didn’t knock out Steve Price, who was involved in a punch-up with Brett White, but charged him for running into the stoush and escalating the incident.
The referees struggled to maintain control after the incident with Ben Creagh and Queensland second-rower Sam Thaiday also sin-binned a minute later after another scuffle.
“It was a little bit like the old Origin games when it all started,” Bellamy said.
“I think the referees did a pretty good job and there was a couple of guys put in the bin there an I didn’t think there was much more they could have done.”
Bellamy and Gidley question the fired-up Queenslanders’ behaviour in the final minute as they attempted to gain a get-square for Price’s knockout.
They said winger David Williams, who suffered a suspected broken cheekbone after copping a Johnathan Thurston boot in the face while scoring his first-half try, showed the sort of cool head the Maroons needed at the death.
Manly lock Anthony Watmough gained a deserved man-of-the-match award for his outstanding non-stop attacking and defensive efforts, which included an early midfield bust and a perfect pass to set up Creagh’s frist try.
“He was tremendous out there tonight,” Bellamy said.
“I’m not sure what he’s on but I want some of it.”
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