.gif)
Craig Bellamy (rugby league footballer)
Encyclopedia
Craig Bellamy is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the NRL's Melbourne Storm
club and previously coached the New South Wales' State of Origin
team. Bellamy also writes a column for The Australian
.
Bellamy played his entire NSWRL premiership career with the Canberra Raiders
during the 1980s and 90s. In Canberra he played under the likes of leading coaches Tim Sheens
and Wayne Bennett, and won a grand final with the Raiders in 1990.
After a coaching apprenticeship as Wayne Bennett's assistant at the Brisbane Broncos
, Bellamy was appointed head coach of Melbourne in 2003. There he has achieved much success, winning premierships in 2007 and 2009. He was the coach of the New South Wales
State of Origin team until he was sacked in 2010 after three unrelenting seasons of disappointment which netted only two wins from nine matches.
in the Country Rugby League
as a teenager before moving to Macquarie United in the Newcastle competition
in 1979.
The Canberra Raiders
signed Bellamy in their debut season, 1982. He played the majority of his career in the centres but was also used as a utility player, appearing at times as fullback, winger, five-eighth and lock.
Bellamy played in the 1990 Grand Final
victory for the Canberra Raiders
as a reserve. He spent 1990 with Turvey Park as captain/coach in the Wagga Wagga competition
and had a stint playing in England for Swinton in 1991, before returning to Canberra for one last year in 1992.
at the Brisbane Broncos
. In 2002, Bellamy coached the Broncos when Bennett was on State of Origin
duty with the Queensland Maroons
. Forced to field a team full of young players due to the regular side's representative commitments, the 'Baby Broncos' upset the Wests Tigers
. The Tigers were a leading candidate to sign Bellamy as their coach for the 2003 season, although he ultimately joined Melbourne after Mark Murray
was sacked.
In his third season as an NRL coach, Bellamy started coaching the Country Origin
team with a loss in 2005. His work with Wayne Bennett extended to international level when he was appointed assistant to Bennett for the Australian Test team
during the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations
tournament, and was often seen 'running the water' to players on the field. Bellamy was considered a leading candidate to coach the Queensland Maroons in 2006, but his selection was opposed by many former players, including Arthur Beetson
, and was ultimately vetoed due to the fact he was a New South Welshman. He coached New South Wales Country to victory and his club, Melbourne won the 2006 minor premiership
and reached the 2006 National Rugby League grand final, but finished as runners-up to former mentor Bennett's Brisbane Broncos. The following season Country lost but the Storm were minor premiers and reached the 2007 grand final
, in which they destroyed the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
34–8 to become the grand final winners of the NRL.
In April, 2008, Bellamy signed a five-year contract extension through to 2013 with Melbourne despite interest from the Brisbane Broncos
. This signing means that Bellamy will become the first 10 year coach in the Storm's history. After the New South Wales Blues'
poor showing in the 2007 State of Origin series, Bellamy was appointed as coach for the 2008 series. In his first series in charge of NSW, the Blues lost to Mal Meninga
's Maroons 2 – 1. The second and third series have also resulted in series losses, therefore posing serious questions on Bellamy's abilities to coach at representative level. It was suggested that Bellamy was chosen as the Blues' coach given he had coached the illegal Melbourne Storm teams to premierships which have since been stripped from them due to salary cap breaches. Bellamy was sacked as Blues coach after the 2010 series which resulted in a 3-0 whitewash, the first in Origin and also the Blues' first since 2000. Ricky Stuart
was later named his successor.
During the finals campaign of the 2008 NRL season, Bellamy cost his club $50,000 after he was fined for disclosing scathing remarks and views on the NRL's decision to suspend his side's captain and goal-kicker, Cameron Smith
over a controversial "grapple tackle" on Brisbane's Sam Thaiday
. Bellamy claimed that the administration was corrupt and that bookkeepers already knew that Smith would be denied the opportunity to play for the rest of the season and furthermore along with Melbourne's CEO questioned the NRL's integrity in their opting to sideline Smith and not others who were guilty of committing similar tackles. This drew threats of legal action from the members of the NRL judiciary.
Bellamy coached Melbourne to their 3rd successive NRL grand final, but could not repeat the feats of the previous year as his side suffered defeat to Manly
.
So far the Storm have not missed the finals in Bellamy's seven seasons at the helm as a result of their performances.
Craig Bellamy coached Melbourne Storm in their grand final win in 2009. 2009 marked the fourth consecetive year Melbourne played in the grand final under Bellamy. Melbourne also reached the top four on the NRL ladder for the fourth consecutive year, under Bellamy.
Bellamy was named coach of the year at the 2009 RLIF awards.
He will again take Melbourne into the finals in 2011 as Melbourne, along with Manly are the two teams that are guaranteed a for the 2011 finals series.
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
club and previously coached the New South Wales' State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
team. Bellamy also writes a column for The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
.
Bellamy played his entire NSWRL premiership career with the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
during the 1980s and 90s. In Canberra he played under the likes of leading coaches Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos...
and Wayne Bennett, and won a grand final with the Raiders in 1990.
After a coaching apprenticeship as Wayne Bennett's assistant at the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, Bellamy was appointed head coach of Melbourne in 2003. There he has achieved much success, winning premierships in 2007 and 2009. He was the coach of the New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
State of Origin team until he was sacked in 2010 after three unrelenting seasons of disappointment which netted only two wins from nine matches.
Playing career
Bellamy played for OberonOberon, New South Wales
-See also:*Oberon Correctional Centre*Mount Trickett*Mount Bindo*Shooters Hill-External links:***...
in the Country Rugby League
New South Wales Country Rugby League
-2011 Tier 2 Championships:-History:Newcastle was the first city outside Sydney to start a league competition, being involved in the Sydney Premiership in 1908-09 and then starting their own competition in 1910....
as a teenager before moving to Macquarie United in the Newcastle competition
Newcastle Rugby League
The Newcastle Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910...
in 1979.
The Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
signed Bellamy in their debut season, 1982. He played the majority of his career in the centres but was also used as a utility player, appearing at times as fullback, winger, five-eighth and lock.
Bellamy played in the 1990 Grand Final
New South Wales Rugby League season 1990
The 1990 New South Wales Rugby League season was the eighty-third season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Sixteen clubs competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the premiership season, which culminated in a grand final between the previous season's premiers,...
victory for the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
as a reserve. He spent 1990 with Turvey Park as captain/coach in the Wagga Wagga competition
Group 9 Rugby League
Group 9 is a rugby league competition based around the surrounding areas of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The competition is played in five grades, these being the under 16s , the under 18s , women's league-tag, Reserve Grade and the XXXX Gold Group 9 First Grade.-History:Group 9 Rugby League was...
and had a stint playing in England for Swinton in 1991, before returning to Canberra for one last year in 1992.
Coaching career
In 1995, Bellamy coached the Canberra Raiders' President's Cup team to a premiership win. In 1998 he became performance co-ordinator and assistant coach to Wayne BennettWayne Bennett (rugby league coach)
Wayne James Bennett AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach for the Newcastle Knights of the NRL...
at the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
. In 2002, Bellamy coached the Broncos when Bennett was on State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
duty with the Queensland Maroons
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
. Forced to field a team full of young players due to the regular side's representative commitments, the 'Baby Broncos' upset the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
. The Tigers were a leading candidate to sign Bellamy as their coach for the 2003 season, although he ultimately joined Melbourne after Mark Murray
Mark Murray (rugby league)
Mark Murray is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia in test matches and Queensland in the State of Origin. His position of choice was halfback...
was sacked.
In his third season as an NRL coach, Bellamy started coaching the Country Origin
City vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
team with a loss in 2005. His work with Wayne Bennett extended to international level when he was appointed assistant to Bennett for the Australian Test team
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
during the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations
2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations
New Zealand 38 defeated Australia 28 New Zealand 38 (C. Toopi 3, N. Cayless, N. Vangana, B. Webb tries; S. Jones 7 goals) defeated Australia 28 New Zealand 38 (C. Toopi 3, N. Cayless, N. Vangana, B. Webb tries; S. Jones 7 goals) defeated Australia 28 (B. Tate 2, M.Gasnier 2, M. King, A. Johns...
tournament, and was often seen 'running the water' to players on the field. Bellamy was considered a leading candidate to coach the Queensland Maroons in 2006, but his selection was opposed by many former players, including Arthur Beetson
Arthur Beetson
Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson, OAM , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia and Queensland from 1964 to 1981. His position was at prop. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. and is frequently cited as the best...
, and was ultimately vetoed due to the fact he was a New South Welshman. He coached New South Wales Country to victory and his club, Melbourne won the 2006 minor premiership
Minor premiership
A minor premiership is the name of the title given to the team which finishes a sporting competition first in the league standings after the regular season but prior to commencement of the playoffs....
and reached the 2006 National Rugby League grand final, but finished as runners-up to former mentor Bennett's Brisbane Broncos. The following season Country lost but the Storm were minor premiers and reached the 2007 grand final
National Rugby League season 2007
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League...
, in which they destroyed the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
34–8 to become the grand final winners of the NRL.
In April, 2008, Bellamy signed a five-year contract extension through to 2013 with Melbourne despite interest from the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
. This signing means that Bellamy will become the first 10 year coach in the Storm's history. After the New South Wales Blues'
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
poor showing in the 2007 State of Origin series, Bellamy was appointed as coach for the 2008 series. In his first series in charge of NSW, the Blues lost to Mal Meninga
Mal Meninga
Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...
's Maroons 2 – 1. The second and third series have also resulted in series losses, therefore posing serious questions on Bellamy's abilities to coach at representative level. It was suggested that Bellamy was chosen as the Blues' coach given he had coached the illegal Melbourne Storm teams to premierships which have since been stripped from them due to salary cap breaches. Bellamy was sacked as Blues coach after the 2010 series which resulted in a 3-0 whitewash, the first in Origin and also the Blues' first since 2000. Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
was later named his successor.
During the finals campaign of the 2008 NRL season, Bellamy cost his club $50,000 after he was fined for disclosing scathing remarks and views on the NRL's decision to suspend his side's captain and goal-kicker, Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
over a controversial "grapple tackle" on Brisbane's Sam Thaiday
Sam Thaiday
Samuel H. "Sam" Thaiday is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he has spent all of his career at the Broncos, with whom he won the 2006...
. Bellamy claimed that the administration was corrupt and that bookkeepers already knew that Smith would be denied the opportunity to play for the rest of the season and furthermore along with Melbourne's CEO questioned the NRL's integrity in their opting to sideline Smith and not others who were guilty of committing similar tackles. This drew threats of legal action from the members of the NRL judiciary.
Bellamy coached Melbourne to their 3rd successive NRL grand final, but could not repeat the feats of the previous year as his side suffered defeat to Manly
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
.
So far the Storm have not missed the finals in Bellamy's seven seasons at the helm as a result of their performances.
Craig Bellamy coached Melbourne Storm in their grand final win in 2009. 2009 marked the fourth consecetive year Melbourne played in the grand final under Bellamy. Melbourne also reached the top four on the NRL ladder for the fourth consecutive year, under Bellamy.
Bellamy was named coach of the year at the 2009 RLIF awards.
He will again take Melbourne into the finals in 2011 as Melbourne, along with Manly are the two teams that are guaranteed a for the 2011 finals series.