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Craig Bellamy talks down Kangaroos coaching job

Coach Craig Bellamy says he won’t think about taking over the reins at the Kangaroos until his future at the Melbourne Storm is decided.

Bellamy has emerged as a front-runner to replace Tim Sheens after Australia’s disastrous Anzac Day match, which was their third successive loss to New Zealand including last year’s Four Nations final defeat.

While it’s expected that Bellamy will step down from the Storm when his contract expires at the end of 2016, the coach said he hadn’t decided if he will coach on until the end of 2018.

“I’m not quite sure what the future holds,” Bellamy said.

“I’ve got the option to finish at the end of ’16 or the end of ’18 so it’s still a long way away.

“I’m just worried about coaching the Melbourne Storm.”

Bellamy ruled out holding both roles, citing his disappointing experience when he took on the NSW State of Origin coaching job alongside the Storm.

He held the position for three seasons until he was sacked by the Blues in 2010 after only winning two from nine matches.

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“I tried that once, it wasn’t very successful,” he said.

“Probably `no’ would be the answer to that.”

Meanwhile, star fullback Billy Slater is still no certainty to face Parramatta on Sunday afternoon despite being named and training with the main squad.

Slater has been sidelined since round five with a troublesome shoulder problem that kept him out the Test match last Sunday.

“We think he will play but we need to him to get through today and Saturday,” Bellamy said.

“We have thought the same thing before and he didn’t end up playing and with some of the contact stuff we need to make sure it’s 100 per cent.

“It’s lingered longer than what he felt or hoped so fingers crossed he will get through.”

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