Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett and CEO Paul White have confirmed the club’s interest in luring Craig Bellamy to the Broncos as the Melbourne boss nears the end of his contract with the Storm.
In a press conference on Wednesday morning, Bennett revealed he initiated the club’s approach to Bellamy in a conversation he organised last month by encouraging the Broncos to secure their future and lock down the best possible coach.
However, the Brisbane coach, who still has a year and a half to run on his current contract, remained typically forthright about his future at the club, saying he has no plans to step down before the 2019 season and shooting down suggestions he and Bellamy could coach the same side next year.
“That’s not going to happen,” was Bennett’s response to the idea.
Bennett admitted he was open to the idea of coaching another NRL club after his contract at the Broncos expires in 2019, revealing he’s already fielded approaches from rival sides, but maintained Brisbane is where he wants to be for the time being.
“There’s a factor for me with my health and age, I have to make sure I’m capable of doing the job. I feel great physically and mentally, I’m not going to be defined by my age,” Bennett said.
“I always put the club first here and I’ll put the club first again.
“I’ve spent 25 years here. I know the place, I know the system, I know how it all works.”
Earlier, club CEO Paul White confirmed a discussion with Bellamy about replacing Bennett has taken place.
White said 68-year-old Bennett was told of the approach as the club looks to its NRL future beyond his contract, which runs until the of the 2019 campaign.
He said Bellamy was considering an offer to stay with the Storm, where he is only contracted until the end of this season.
“We have had a conversation with Craig Bellamy but at this point in time there are no negotiations taking place,” White said.
White was speaking after a report that Brisbane were ready to table a four-year deal worth more than $5 million for Bellamy to make a switch.
But Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy said Bellamy has been presented with an offer to stay at the club he’s led since 2003.
He has coached Melbourne in 406 NRL games, highlighted by premierships in 2012 and 2017.
“Craig has a significant three-year deal on the table with us. That’s been there for a month,” Donaghy told NRL.com.
Bellamy started his NRL coaching career with the Broncos as an assistant under Bennett in 1998 before taking charge of Melbourne five years later.
Bennett will coach his 800th NRL game when the Broncos play Parramatta tomorrow night.
With AAP
steveng
Roar Rookie
HaHaaa, good one Dan, Darius/Bennett that’s a classic, as it should have been more appropriately Ben/Bennett, as Hunt should have never ever been let go. Bellamy will not go to the Broncos, he would be m_a_d to do so. For me, this Bennett thing is just a big kick up the ass for Wayne to make the Broncs perform better in 2018-19 otherwise he is on his last legs at the Broncs. It will be very interesting to see where Bennett will end up once he gets punted from the Broncs?
KenoathCarnt
Guest
I really wish more attention would go into finding a good centre and no.7 for Broncos that is the real issue.
kk
Guest
In the memory bank forever, Emcie. Darius pounding the ground was sad viewing. No BS I sensed it coming from the time JT started running across field to the time JT put the FG between the posts. I just knew the Cowboys were going to win. I felt sorry for Hunt. The same thing happened to me in Juniors. Not a NQC fan but Kyle Feldt is still my favourite Cowboy. It will be interesting to see when the Broncos sale takes place.
Emcie
Roar Guru
To be fair, he was one tackle and a Ben Hunt away from getting a premiership in his first year back
kk
Guest
Hi Daniel, Let's go back to when Wayne phoned Lachlan Murdoch and purportedly guaranteed a premiership within three years. Exit Coach Griffin to Penrith. Premierships pending. Lachlan now resides permanently in the USA and is being groomed to fill Rupert's shoes. Karl Morris is appointed Chairman of the Broncos. Roy Masters SMH 11/2/2018 hints that the club may now be subjected to a tidy up ready for sale presentation. It would be a prudent move to sell before another Queensland club is granted a licence. For whatever reason be it initiated by Wayne or not, having Craig Bellamy as coach would add value to the exercise. He has a squad in place that is to die for. There sure are some ironies hanging on the Broncos and the Storm's futures. Both clubs draw heavily on the Queensland talent pool. Imagine Bennett to coach that new team or perhaps take over at the Storm. In all this I feel for assistant coach O'Brien. I'm tipping he will better them all.
Paul
Roar Guru
I hope for the good of the game in Melbourne, Bellamy accepts the offer from the Storm. They'll obviously lose Smith & Slater before too long to retirement ( if Bellamy goes, that might even hasten their departure), then they lose their long term, highly successful coach and they'll likely lose some other players who'll jump ship if Bellamy's not there. All in all, it could be a complete disaster for the Storm.
Dan
Guest
Wayne has been a true servant of the Broncos. What happens to Darius Bennett if Wayne does get punted?