Newly appointed Gold Coast Titans head coach Josh Hannay’s deal comes with a twist — a clause in his contract that allows the club to pursue Melbourne Storm mentor Craig Bellamy if he becomes available.
The 45-year-old officially signed a three-year deal in August to replace Des Hasler and will begin his first pre-season in charge of the Titans next month.
But the finer details of his contract have now come under the spotlight, with AAP revealing Gold Coast officials built in a special clause allowing them to pursue Bellamy if the opportunity arises.
Reports suggest Hannay agreed to the unusual clause, which would see him move into an assistant coaching role if Storm coach Craig Bellamy made the switch north in 2027 to take charge of the Titans.
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It’s no secret that the Gold Coast Titans have long admired Bellamy, having explored several arrangements with the veteran coach over the years for various roles, including the head coaching position and other senior off-field positions.
“We are very excited to have Josh Hannay joining us as our head coach from 2026,” Titans CEO Steve Mitchell stated.
“All employee contractual arrangements remain strictly confidential, and as such, we will not be making public comment.
“We acknowledge Craig’s exceptional coaching credentials and reputation within the game and like many NRL clubs, would welcome him and his family in any capacity.”
The inclusion of the so-called “Bellamy clause” underscores the Titans’ ambition to keep their options open should the premiership-winning mentor decide to leave Melbourne.
If the club were successful in luring Bellamy, and he wished to assume the head coaching role, Gold Coast officials wanted to ensure a clear pathway existed to make the transition seamless.