Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has shut down talk of a return to the NSW Origin arena, declaring he isn’t interested.
Amid talk current Blues coach Brad Fittler faces the axe after losing three of the past four series, Bellamy has been floated as a possibility.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart, NSW assistant and ex-Dragons coach Paul McGregor and even former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika have also been touted as possibilities.
With one match in the current Origin series remaining next month and the Blues trailing 0-2, Fitter’s future will be decided by a NSWRL review.
The NSWRL is reportedly again considering club mentors after its recent preference for non-aligned coaches such as Fittler.
But Bellamy gave a resolute “no” when asked about his interest in returning to the position he held for three series from 2008-2010 – losing each year to Queensland.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
“No,” he said on Thursday when asked about any Origin interest.
“Freddy (Fittler) is NSW coach and that’s how it is and how it should be.
“He’s still got a game to go and a job to do and hopefully they will get a win.”
While he only managed two wins from nine games while at the Origin helm, Bellamy has coached 538 games.
The 63-year-old also has a deep knowledge of former Storm star Billy Slater, now the Queensland coach.
Slater was on Thursday assisting the Storm players to adjust to Marvel Stadium, where they will host Penrith on Friday night.
Bellamy could also help unpick top-shelf Maroons minds Cameron Munster and Harry Grant, who were integral in this year’s series win.
But during his last NSW stint the coach spoke of his unease about coaching against his own players – among them Slater, Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis and Cooper Cronk.
The idea of being a coaching consultant to the NSW coach, whether it’s Fittler or someone else, was also floated but Bellamy again resisted the idea.
“No, I’m coach of Storm for this year and next year and that’s all I am concentrating on.”
Before taking on the Queensland role this year Slater said he felt Bellamy’s coaching style was not a natural fit for Origin.
“I think he only knows the one way (to coach),” Slater said in 2020.
“I just think Craig’s a style of coach that really succeeds in the NRL arena with the consistency, having his team for a long period of time.
“In Origin, you just need to get a group of guys together and get them playing for each other.”
Manly have locked down Josh Schuster through to the end of 2027, with the five-eighth agreeing to a pay cut to stay at Brookvale.
Schuster penned a three-year extension with the Sea Eagles, insisting he was happy to stay on despite the offer of more money elsewhere.
The retention of Schuster follows Manly’s recent raid on other clubs, with halfback Luke Brooks and centre Tommy Talau (both Wests Tigers) and winger Jaxson Paulo (Sydney Roosters) all lined up for Brookvale in 2024.
The addition of Brooks creates a logjam for the Sea Eagles in the halves, with the 22-year-old Schuster tipped to return to the back row after failing to fire at five-eighth this season.
“I know there will always be media speculation about what players are paid but the fact is I am staying here for less than I was offered elsewhere and less than my current deal which was due to expire in 2024,” Schuster said.
“The reason is that I want to be a part of a successful Manly team, and I have bought into what (coach Anthony Seibold) is trying to do at the cub.
“He is being inventive, and he has an obvious plan to forge a team that goes beyond just numbers on players’ backs.”
Schuster has only managed eight games this season after struggling through back-to-back calf and quad injuries, coming up with a try and nine assists in those outings.
He had been linked with a move to the Wests Tigers before agreeing his new deal at Manly.
Jack Wighton’s “itchy feet” means he may never shut the door on a return to the NSW side with the Canberra five-eighth admitting it’s been difficult watching his former teammates struggle through this year’s State of Origin series.
But the Raiders champion, who announced his retirement from representative football earlier this year, insists his immediate focus is delivering the Canberrans a season to remember before shifting to South Sydney next year.
The 30-year-old looked at his powerful best in leading the Raiders to a 20-18 win over Sydney on Sunday, making a season-high 12 runs and scoring an impressive leaping try as they moved to sixth on the table.
“My halfback was actually listening to me,” Wighton said with a laugh.
“It was probably just fresh legs after a bye and just taking my opportunities a little bit more … I was just having fun.
“I’ve got a few games to go and I’m not getting ahead of myself. We’ve just gotta keep digging in and putting our best foot forward.”
But Wighton and his teammates know they must tighten up defensively to be a factor deep into the season, conceding three straight tries to nearly cough up an 18-0 lead.
Adding to their 41, 28 and 22-point home losses this season, their defensive lapses have left them with a woeful -69 point differential, the only team inside the top eight with a negative mark.
“That’s probably our undoing this year, leaking a few too many points,” Wighton said.
Jack Wighton of the Blues scores a try. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“We’ve had teams to the sword and we end up giving our fans a heart attack, and ourselves.
“Just letting in a couple of tries that shouldn’t be tries … it’s something we’re working hard on to shut down those tries that bring pressure and wreck our for and against.”
The Dally M and Clive Churchill medallist said he didn’t enjoy watching his former NSW teammates slump to a 2-0 Origin series deficit, and while he won’t answer an SOS call this year the door appears more than ajar moving forward.
“It’s been difficult just because you still have all the emotions and I believe that lasts forever,” Wighton said.
“It’s one of them games, such an arena and such a build up and you see the passion.
“I’ve always got itchy feet mate, no matter what it is.”
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