Bellamy the man to turn Blues around

AAP | 18/11/08 | 0

Melbourne Storm boss Brian Waldron says NSW have given themselves the best possible chance of avoiding an embarrassing fourth straight State of Origin series loss to Queensland by convincing Craig Bellamy to stay on as coach next year.

It's understood Bellamy was close to rejecting the NSWRL board's invitation to coach the Blues next year until receiving certain assurances about how he could better use his time between his NRL club and the NSW Origin team.

With Queensland eyeing an unprecedented fourth straight series win, NSW were desperate to have Bellamy back as mentor, even though  initially he found coaching against so many of his own players difficult.

"At the end of the day that's the trade off for being the coach of a successful first grade team and Craig accepts that," said Waldron.

"It's a great appointment for them (NSW).

"It's wonderful he's agreed to do it. There's an Origin game in Melbourne next year and that's great for the exposure and promotion of the game down here, especially now with Craig coaching NSW."

"Craig will be very keen to give it his best shot."

Bellamy found the pressure of coaching NSW and Melbourne difficult in his first attempt at Origin up against Mal Meninga who'd had the benefit of having played 34 games for Queensland and coaching two previous series'.

Bellamy was in Thailand on a break and could not be contacted for comment on Monday when NSWRL general manager Geoff Carr confirmed his re-appointment.
Waldron said the Origin call was totally Bellamy's to make.

"Craig is a winner. When you don't necessarily achieve what you set out to do, you want a chance to try and get the job done the following year," said Waldron.

It's believed Bellamy had a change of heart about the Origin job after Carr agreed to some concessions about juggling his time between his Storm commitments and the NSW Origin side.

"I think they've given Craig some resources which he didn't have in 2008 to help him get the job done," said Waldron.

"From what I understand they've put in place a few plans to help him better utilise his time so he can give 100 per cent to the Storm as well as NSW Origin.

"There's only one (NRL) game next year that we have Origin on the weekend that Melbourne is playing.

Carr said he was very pleased Bellamy would have another crack at Queensland next year.

"As we all know he went within a whisker of leading the Blues to a series victory this year and we have every confidence he is able to go one better next year," Carr said.

"Craig is a fierce competitor and an outstanding coach and it's terrific he has come on board for 2009."

It's a great appointment for them (NSW)... Melbourne Storm boss Brian Waldron