OFFICIAL Bellamy extends contract with Melbourne Storm

[Super Freak]

"I've never had a year off. You could look at it in two ways. It could be refreshing and go to organisations and pick up on things. We usually do that for two weeks. Having a year off, the game evolves quickly so you could lose.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/05/23...if-he-becomes-brisbane-broncos-coach-in-2020/

 

[ZTop]

Well last night I was all for Bellamy to Broncos, but a couple pages back on this thread a few people quoted things that made me worry. The problem I have with getting rid of Bennett is player pull from Bennett. How many players that have signed with Broncos have said the idea of being coached by Bennett made me sign. TPJ has said he wants to be coached by Bennett, he is one of our best players and may follow Bennett out of the club. So I'm worried

 

[Super Freak]

Well last night I was all for Bellamy to Broncos, but a couple pages back on this thread a few people quoted things that made me worry. The problem I have with getting rid of Bennett is player pull from Bennett. How many players that have signed with Broncos have said the idea of being coached by Bennett made me sign. TPJ has said he wants to be coached by Bennett, he is one of our best players and may follow Bennett out of the club. So I'm worried

We aren't going to have Bennett forever, so at some point we will be crossing that bridge.

TPJ also said he wants to be a Broncos player for life.

 

[OXY-351]

I wonder how long Bellamy will keep coaching for. He keeps on talking about retirement.

If the Broncos were to sign him, I hope he's in for the long haul, and not just for a 4 year contract. If he only signed for 4 years and retired, I don't really see what the advantage is to losing Bennett at this point.

I get the Broncos want a succession plan, but if it's only a 3 year one (over and above the year Bennett had left) then I'm not sure I see the point. It seems liek Bennett is keen to go for longer too.

I just question how long Bellamy can go on coaching. His coaching style seems very high stressed. Surely you can't do that for ever. I mean the storm have been so successful, and he still seems so highly strung in games. Imagine if he doesn't have much success with a team without Smith, Slater and Cronk.

 

[OXY-351]

When Bennett keeps on talking about coaching for longer, I keep getting visions of a Weekend at Bernies type scenario. Clearly Walters wasn't up for it though.

 

[Gaz]

He didn’t say he was coming to the Broncs but he didn’t say he wasn’t either. My gut feeling says we have more then a chance.

 

[Porthoz]

What a fizzer.

I was expecting Wayne to come out with Paul White in a choke hold.

We'll bring that rumour out next week (punch-up in the boardroom)... click bait for another massive day at BHQ.

 

[1910]

For those who are welcoming this news with open arms, I admire your optimism, I really do, and I wish I could borrow a bit of it, but nothing about this situation smells good to me. Many would argue what we saw on Saturday at AAMI Park is the real Craig Bellamy; rudderless and sulky without Cameron Smith leading the troops on the ground, and if and when he comes to Brisbane, he will be well and truly on his own for the first time in his coaching career.

Rewriting history or ignoring it makes you look ignorant.

What about in 2003 when he took on the Storm gig as a rookie? That club that was barely surviving in a foreign state to league, had just sacked it's last two coaches and not made the finals for two years?

Slater debuts In his first game with Bellamy and Smith was on a lofty two games, Cronk was still playing ISC for another three years before he'd be the half.

I'd say turning that shambles around was pretty alone work. 10th spot to 5th and second week of the finals with the same roster seems easy as a rookie then rebuilding the place.

 

[Brent81]

Everything Bellamy is saying gives me the feeling that he wants to come to Brisbane. Get it done Whitey.

This was always the best case scenario for us, we get the last good years of WB and get to replace him with the younger version of him. I think Craig could use 12 months off as well to be quite honest, that'll be nothing but a good thing for him.

Agreed.

It's got that feeling doesn't it.

Best coach in the comp - with our roster (minus a couple, plus a couple - a few changes always happen like that).....that could be amazing.

 

[Super Freak]

I wonder how long Bellamy will keep coaching for. He keeps on talking about retirement.

If the Broncos were to sign him, I hope he's in for the long haul, and not just for a 4 year contract. If he only signed for 4 years and retired, I don't really see what the advantage is to losing Bennett at this point.

I get the Broncos want a succession plan, but if it's only a 3 year one (over and above the year Bennett had left) then I'm not sure I see the point. It seems liek Bennett is keen to go for longer too.

I just question how long Bellamy can go on coaching. His coaching style seems very high stressed. Surely you can't do that for ever. I mean the storm have been so successful, and he still seems so highly strung in games. Imagine if he doesn't have much success with a team without Smith, Slater and Cronk.

Bellamy comes in for 4 years, he convinces Kevvie to come back and grooms him to take over.

Kevvie has a good relationship with Bellamy.

 

[Brent81]

Well last night I was all for Bellamy to Broncos, but a couple pages back on this thread a few people quoted things that made me worry. The problem I have with getting rid of Bennett is player pull from Bennett. How many players that have signed with Broncos have said the idea of being coached by Bennett made me sign. TPJ has said he wants to be coached by Bennett, he is one of our best players and may follow Bennett out of the club. So I'm worried

Yeah and how many blokes sing for a pack of cigs to play for Bellyache at the Storm - plenty.

Doubt that Haas or TPJ will go if Bellyache comes here.

 

[Unbreakable]

1 more thing that needs to be said, Bellamy & Bennett are incredibly intelligent businessmen, before anything else. I think the most likely way this plays out is this -

Bellamy signs a 4 year - $5.6m deal with the Broncos starting in 2020 (with a clause indicating that if Bennett decides to request a release that it becomes a 5 year - $7m deal starting in 2019)

Bennett requests a release from his contract at the end of the 2018 season to sign with a rival NRL club on a long-term deal.

This makes the most sense for both men, Bellamy either gets a year off, or gets an extra year of that very handsome salary. The reasoning behind Bennett requesting a release is simple, he'll know that he has no long-term future at the club, and he feels that he's still capable of coaching an NRL team for the foreseeable future. He won't wait until the end of 2019 to make that call because he knows he gains absolutely nothing out of waiting and stands to lose a whole lot more. (Whether that be through opportunities at other clubs dissipating, or the Broncos under-performing even more in 2019 and making him look a lot less appealing as an ageing coach on a long-term deal off the back of 2 mediocre seasons.)

 

[Brent81]

Rewriting history or ignoring it makes you look ignorant.

What about in 2003 when he took on the Storm gig as a rookie? That club that was barely surviving in a foreign state to league, had just sacked it's last two coaches and not made the finals for two years?

Slater debuts In his first game with Bellamy and Smith was on a lofty two games, Cronk was still playing ISC for another three years before he'd be the half.

I'd say turning that shambles around was pretty alone work. 10th spot to 5th and second week of the finals with the same roster seems easy as a rookie then rebuilding the place.

Smith wasn't even playing hooker - he was playing halfback as I recall.

 

[Brent81]

Kasiano is fitter now yes but it's hardly made him a better player.

thats a miracle in and of itself.

 

[Brent81]

ps - one C Smith is also off contract this year. As is one B Slater.

 

[007]

Poor kevvie was hardly mentioned enthusiastically by wayne during that presser. Have a feeling kevvies departure was through being told its not a possible future.

I vote for belly, even though he does bring some undesirable game traits, hes better than any other option. Darius wouldn't survive under such a coach either.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Rewriting history or ignoring it makes you look ignorant.

What about in 2003 when he took on the Storm gig as a rookie? That club that was barely surviving in a foreign state to league, had just sacked it's last two coaches and not made the finals for two years?

Slater debuts In his first game with Bellamy and Smith was on a lofty two games, Cronk was still playing ISC for another three years before he'd be the half.

I'd say turning that shambles around was pretty alone work. 10th spot to 5th and second week of the finals with the same roster seems easy as a rookie then rebuilding the place.

Lets not get carried away here, Bellamy wasn't inheriting the South Queensland Crushers, Gold Coast Giants/Seagulls/Chargers or an early version of the North Queensland Cowboys, Canberra Raiders, Newcastle Knights or Illwarra Steelers outfit that were basically there to make up the numbers for a long period of their early existence, he was inheriting a quality squad and side that between 1998 and 2002 the worst the Storm finished was 10th(9th the year before, not exactly far off the pace from a finals appearance) and 3 out of 5 years of finals appearances during that period including a premiership. Players of 2003 include Marcus Bai, Steve Bell, Matt Geyer, Scott Hill, Ryan Hoffman, Rodney Howe, Dallas Johnson, Antonio Kaufusi, Stephen Kearney, Robbie Kearns, David Kidwell, Matt King, Andrew McFadden, Aaron Moule, Matt Orford, Kirk Reynoldson, Robbie Ross, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, a roster with a good mixture of experience rep and first graders and promising up and coming young players many of the sides I mentioned early would have killed for in the early stages of their existence. He had a job to do but that is still a good base to work from.

 

[Porthoz]

Having watched both pressers, my thoughts:

- Broncos board decides to approach Bellamy before he accepts an offer from the Storm.
- Storm tables offer to Bellamy.
- White flies to Melbourne for a conversation with Bellamy (they talked footy apparently, says Bellamy :rolleyes:)
- Wayne finds out (either from the Board and White transparently, or from a leak), triggering a discussion with White and/or Board.
- Someone leaks all of this to the press, forcing everyone to front cameras and mikes.
- Strategy is agreed between all involved about what to tell press.
- Bennett clings to his contract and insists he will coach in 2019 and possibly beyond. However, he leaves a huge gate open to retiring at the end of this season for "health reasons". Of course, a massive multi-year offer from a rival club would also do the trick.
- Bellamy confirms talks, albeit no formal offer from the Broncos.
- Bellamy delays decision for at least a week, when the Storm has a bye, and avoids any question which would indicate which way he is swaying. He also indicates he wants to have a frank discussion with Wayne.
- Bellamy doesn't deny possibility of a sabbatical next season, showing flexibility and putting the ball firmly in Wayne's court, who will have a hard time denying the hypocrisy of forcing his overstay at the Broncos, especially after the whole "Griffin gate".

This is not going away any time soon...