A Supportive Community for Craig Bellamy
Melbourne Storm legend Billy Slater has expressed his willingness to assist coach Craig Bellamy if asked, as the NRL community comes together to support the coach following his recent diagnosis. The news of Bellamy’s condition has sent shockwaves through the rugby league world, with fans and colleagues alike rallying around him.
NRL fans were taken aback when the club announced that Bellamy had been diagnosed with an unspecified neurodegenerative disorder. Despite this, Bellamy is continuing in his role, appearing in the coaching box during the team’s loss to the Dolphins on Friday night. He has been the Storm’s coach since 2003, guiding the club to five premierships—two of which were later stripped.
Bellamy has coached a remarkable 615 games in the NRL. However, the sad news has raised questions about how long he will remain at the helm of the club. Bellamy signed a two-year extension with the Storm ahead of the 2026 season. This has led to speculation about who might take over from Bellamy when he eventually steps down.
Slater, who is currently coaching the Queensland Maroons, has not ruled out the possibility of helping out his former coach if approached. He has been working with the club this season in a part-time role and has also been mentoring new fullback Sua Fa’alago.
Speaking ahead of the Storm’s game on Channel Nine, Slater emphasized that he would not hesitate to assist Bellamy in any capacity. “Look, you do things for people you care for. Craig Bellamy and the Melbourne Storm are two things I really care for. If Craig Bellamy ever asked me for a hand, he wouldn’t have to ask twice,” Slater said on Friday night.
He also highlighted Bellamy’s dedication to the Storm and the club’s commitment to supporting him. Storm chairman Matt Tripp stated that the club was backing Bellamy to continue in his role. “Despite our recent results, I firmly believe Craig is still coaching at an elite level and I have no doubt he is the right person to drive the club forward,” Tripp said in a statement. “Craig has the full support of the board, players, coaches and staff to continue leading the club as he has done for the last 24 seasons.”
Personal Reflections on Bellamy’s Condition
Slater admitted that Bellamy shared the news with him a few weeks ago, which hit him hard. “It’s obviously really tough to take. To someone you looked up to and has led you for the best part of 25 years. To know that he is going through a battle and is going to continue to go through a battle for a period of time is pretty hard to take,” Slater said.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart, who played with Bellamy at the Raiders in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the 1990 grand final win over Penrith, also spoke about his friend’s situation. Stuart revealed that he had known about Bellamy’s condition for about three or four weeks. “I know he’s getting very good advice and got good people around him,” Stuart said. “He’s got a beautiful family, so it’s now time for Craig to really care about Craig and put himself first.”
The NRL community continues to show its support for Bellamy as he faces this challenging time. Fans, teammates, and fellow coaches are coming together to ensure that he has the necessary support to navigate his journey ahead.
