Craig Bellamy is giving serious consideration to coaching on in 2024 and is expected to make a definitive call in coming days in a move that will have implications for St George Illawarra’s search for a new coach.
The Dragons board met on Tuesday to discuss potential replacements for Anthony Griffin but will hold off on the interview process until a decision is made on the incumbent coach. One of the likely targets will be Jason Ryles, although developments in Melbourne will affect the Dragons’ chances of snaring his signature.
Bellamy was expected to finish his illustrious coaching career at the end of this season, before shifting to a less taxing off-field role with the Storm.
However, Bellamy has told those close to him that he is leaning towards another year with the clipboard, a move that would extend one of the greatest coaching careers in Australian sport.
Should that transpire, there will be huge ramifications for the Red V. Ryles has been identified as a leading candidate to take over from Bellamy and the timing of the premiership-winning mentor’s departure would make the Storm a better fit than the Dragons.
Ryles is currently an assistant to Trent Robinson at the Roosters and is contracted until the end of 2024. The Tricolours are keen to avoid the situation that resulted in Adam O’Brien requesting an early release to take up the Newcastle job, which is why they secured Ryles to a three-year contract.
A decision on Craig Bellamy’s future is imminent.Credit: Getty Images
Should Bellamy retire at the end of 2024, Ryles could fulfil his Roosters commitments and seamlessly transition to the Storm – where he has previously been part of the brains trust – to begin his NRL head-coaching career.
At the monthly Dragons board meeting at the St George Leagues Club on Tuesday, directors gave management the green light to approach potential candidates for the job for next year. The shortlist is expected to include Ryles, and former teammates Ben Hornby and Dean Young, who are currently assistants at the Rabbitohs and Cowboys respectively.
Other coaches likely to be sounded out include the premiership-winning trio of Des Hasler, Shane Flanagan and Michael Maguire.
The development with Bellamy and the board meeting comes as former Dragons prop Aaron Woods said Griffin should leave the club now if he is not in St George Illawarra’s plans for 2024.
Woods completed a mid-season move to Manly recently, but hated what was unfolding at his former club and the constant speculation surrounding Griffin.
“Will Hook stay? I don’t know. They need to make a decision, and whatever decision that is they need to do it now,” Woods told the Herald.
“The club just needs to make a call. It will be a harsh call if they move him on, but it’s a business. The longer it drags on, the harder it is on the players.
“Poor blokes like [skipper] Ben Hunt will keep getting asked about it, and if he comes out and supports Hook, and the fans are off Hook, then the same fans are off Benny. If the club don’t want to renew Hook, move him on now.”
Bellamy’s decision is expected to precede any big call the Dragons make.
The 63-year-old has fuelled a guessing game about his future for almost a decade, but gave the biggest indication yet in February that this year will be his last.
During an appearance on NRL 360, Bellamy said it’s “time for the club to have a new coach” and was “pretty sure” this will be his swansong.
“I’m pretty sure this is gonna be my last year as a head coach,” Bellamy said at the time. “I’ll still be around the club a bit in a part-time role at the end of this year, but nothing’s really changed.
Jason Ryles during his work with England rugby.Credit: Getty
“I’m not quite sure when the club wants a definite answer but I want to give [them] plenty of time to find a new coach … I can’t see anything changing this year as to me not retiring at the end of the year.”
However, the longer Bellamy has grappled with the decision, the more hope the Storm have held out that he will coach on. Melbourne officials have refrained from imposing a hard deadline on Bellamy, who is expected to bring the matter to a head – potentially in coming days – in the hope he will provide the answer they are hoping to hear.
Even if Bellamy calls it quits after the current campaign, there is no guarantee that Ryles will entertain overtures from the Dragons.
Griffin is expected to fulfil his contractual obligations for the rest of this season but is privately resigned to not earning a new deal.
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