Melbourne owe everything to Bellamy

If you want to judge Craig on his Coaching just re-watch the 2012 grand final, and NO asterix on that grand final win.

With the spine and the NZ'ers that takes you to 8 without trying.

I would dispute that Smith, Slater, Cronk and Inglis were anywhere near the finished article when they went to the Storm. None had played any high level senior football. From memory Inglis was the only onw that other clubs had shown an interest in. After being recruited they played for Brisbane Norths, who were the Storm's feeder team. The vast majority of their careers have been under Bellamy. Cronk is probably his greatest work. He was a utility / backrower type player. Bellamy lost Orford and has turned Cronk into the game's premier half back.

You are joking arent you? Bellamy has had at his disposal internationals for both Australia and NZ in his time at the Storm. Adam Blair and Jeremy Smith played for NZ (thats naming two straight off the bat) and I honesty have not enough time to list reps for Australia that werent just the spine

I believe everyone who coaches at NRL level can coach, just like everyone who plays at NRL level can play. The coach could be said to have the impact of one player, Gus Gould in his coaching heydey made this comment. So, is Ryan Hoffman a better player than Paul Gallen because he has won premierships ? Is Michael Hagan a great coach because he won a premiership ? How do us mug punters really know that Bellamy is a better coach than say an Elliot, Smith, Cleary, Furner or even Rick Stone ? Or has he just had the prime cattle to enhance his reputation ? No dispute that Bellamy can coach, but so can everyone at that level. People also forget that the great Storm era comes with a giant asterix.

Coach is only as good as the cattle, Obviously Bellamy can coach becuase hes been able to keep the Storm side motivated for years. How ever to say he is a master coach is like saying the jockey for black cavier is the best jockey in the world. He needs to coach another side before id say hes in the class of Gibson and Bennett.

Wishful thinking ;) Did you watch Prince play the other night? Wow. He's as terrible as the last time I saw him. He looked even worse given how well everyone else went.

Nick there are a few things you also choose to disregard. When he coached NSW against QLD, he was versing the a core group of players he new everything about. He would give them his blood sweat and tears to them and give them every tool he had to make them better players. I refer to Inglis, Slater, Cronk and Smith! How do you coach against these players? Ok he has the knowledge but they too possess the knowledge as to how he coaches. If he went into NSW coaching the same way then the players new what they were going to be able to do. Bellamy has also had to coach during the most difficult time as a NSW coach, not even Ricky Stuarts team from last year could beat the team which supposedly got outplayed all series. Isn't this concerning? When a team plays worse than you and still wins, imagine if QLD played great like previous years, in fact what if they play great this year? Furthermore, regarding his tenure - he has had a great core, this is a thing all coaches look for, they don't look to be shipped pillar to post, they get their core players, by identifying their strengths and weaknesses and make them greater. Don't take away the work that he has done for those players. Perhaps if he did move on he would find things more challenging but people said the same about Bennett, then what? Dragons win a minor Premiership and a Grand Final, not bad if you ask me. So this is his 10th year, yes? When he finally moves on like Bennett did after 20 odd years then you can draw comparisons and judge. IN regards to the salary cap, as you said "your admin cheat the salary cap for years" "admin" He may be the coach but there is not much he can do if people want to cheat, very touchy subject it is but it can not form a whole argument as to why. I'm not saying you have, but in response this can not be your full argument as they were eventually stripped, he then proceeded to play for no points the year after, without inglis as well and would have finished roughly around the top four if playing for points. Now that to me is a dedicated and strong minded coach! "c) you choose not to release your core as you know that only they are the key to success." Would you have let go of Darren Lockyer at the Broncos? Would you let go Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah at Tigers? etc.etc. Don't be silly, of course he wouldn't let them go, but he also did the work to get them to where they were, for they werent stars before going there.

Accidental repost, disregard.

Not true...every team can be beaten. If the coach doesn't know how to exploit the weaknesses of his players, then he isn't worth any salt in the game. The fact that he didn't come close to winning a SoG trophy highlights his own weaknesses as a coach. Furthermore, regarding his storm tenure: its very easy to be a dominant coach when a) you have a great core b) your admin cheat the salary cap for years c) you choose not to release your core as you know that only they are the key to success. When he has coached teams that didnt feature his core...he has been left wanting. Granted that has only been a few times.

Craig Bellamy assistant to Wayne Bennett, Bennett the greatest coach ever! Bellamy shows the same traits as Wayne. Stephen Kearney assistant to Bellamy, now at Broncos! And Anthony Griffin not to shabby either. Griffin and Kearney new combination, watch out NRL 2013, BRISBANE BRONCOS PREMIERSHIP!

You have to remember he was coaching the core of the QLD side for 30-40 weeks of the year and the NSW side for 6-8 weeks max.

I think people forget how good a player Inglis was at Storm... He broke into the side young... Storm, QLD, Australia Won a churchill medal his first year at 5/8 and the biggest factor in his improvement has been moving to his ideal position at fullback (Where storm have Billy Slater) I think tucked away down in Melbourne Sydney did not appreciate him Jermey Smith was also very good at Storm. I would argue Maloney has thrived although he was also stuck behind great players.

That NSW side was far inferior to their opponents....i don't think any other coach would have had success. Yes, the spine is great however bellamy has developed and been able to get the best out of these guys.

What a great coach, he was highly rated as an assistant under Bennett and came to the Storm at the same time as the big 3 were starting there careers. What a run it's been, 5 Grand Finals in 7 years. I can't see any other coach show the resiliency and fortitude to bring the Club back after the salary cap shambles. That was a remarkable effort and he is worth every cent of the Multi million dollar contract. They will be contenders as long as he and the Big 3 are together.

Every era there has been a coach who stands out a remarkable person is Graham Low recently retired who has given so much to Australian league. My opinion is NRL will never have such ability arrive from off shore again and sadly the drift now appears the opposite direction. Without knocking or name blaming ,,supporters everywhere should always recognise great coaches whether it's Wally, Graham or Craig ,they and others are what make the game great by adding their contribution .