After more than two decades at the helm in Melbourne, Craig Bellamy will become only the fourth person since 1908 to coach 600 first-grade games when the Storm runs out against the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park in Round 26.
Aside from the first two games of his NRL coaching career, which took place in a fill-in capacity at the Brisbane Broncos in 2002, they’ve all come at the Storm in an unprecedented feat of endurance—and excellence.
After playing 150 games for the Canberra Raiders between 1982 and 1992, including two grand finals, it seemed destiny would ultimately see the man known as ‘Bellyache’ take up the reins in the nation’s capital at some stage.
In fact, according to veteran ABC sports commentator Tim Gavel it nearly did—and possibly should have—when Bellamy was still working under Wayne Bennett at the Brisbane Broncos in 2001.
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“In 2001 he (Bellamy) expressed a desire to return to the Raiders as head coach succeeding Mal Meninga,” Gavel explained in 2021, adding Bellamy was the obvious choice at the time.
“History reveals he missed out and the job was given to Matthew Elliott, who had been coaching in the UK.”
“The Raiders interview panel that appointed Elliott comprised Robert Finch, Laurie Daley and Kevin Neil,” Gavel recounted.
“The reasoning given by Finch for rejecting Bellamy as Raiders coach was that Bellamy would have been coaching players he played with, which was seen as an issue.”
It was a classic ‘sliding doors’ moment, both for Bellamy and the Raiders.
‘I just knew he was going to be a great fit’—John Ribot
Instead of moving to Canberra, Bellamy continued his apprenticeship under Wayne Bennett at the Broncos for a further season, before opportunity came knocking when the Storm parted ways with Mark Murray as head coach at the end of 2002, having missed the finals in consecutive seasons.
The Storm hit the open market in search of a replacement, and it quickly became apparent to club CEO John Ribot that there was a clear and obvious favourite.
“Everywhere I rang they said, ‘Craig Bellamy, have you looked at him?’,” Ribot later explained.
“I just knew he was going to be a great fit for our organisation, all the good things you look for in people, Craig had all those qualities.”
Within a month the deal was done, and Bellamy took the reins as head coach for the start of the 2003 NRL season—a position he has held ever since, guiding the Storm to a remarkable 21 finals appearances in 22 seasons, including three* premierships.
He has also been recognised as the Dally M Coach of the Year seven times.
With the 600-game milestone approaching, Storm chief executive Justin Rodski praised Bellamy’s enduring impact earlier this week.
“Craig Bellamy is not only the most successful coach in Melbourne Storm history, but he’s also one of the greatest coaches Australian sport has seen,” Rodski said.
Love him or hate him, it’s hard to argue. Well done Bellyache.
* Yes, yes, we know what you’re thinking Storm fans. But according to the NRL it’s three, not five.