‘He’d get bored at home in his mansion’: Storm players back Craig Bellamy to stay on in 2026 as veteran coach weighs up future

Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes says Craig Bellamy would get easily bored if he decides to retire at the end of the season, which is why he expects the veteran coach to stay on for at least another year.

Bellamy has an option to remain in charge of the premiership favourites in 2026 and is likely to make a call on his coaching future in the coming weeks to give the club plenty of time to find a replacement if he does decide to call time on his glittering career.

A decision was made on May 10 last year for him to coach on in 2025, with the early mail that he will make a similar call very soon.

The seven-time Dally M Coach of the Year has helped turn the Storm into one of the biggest sporting franchises in Australia since he arrived in 2003.

It’s why they’d love for him to stay as long as he wants, with champion five-eighth Cameron Munster likely to walk into his coach’s office and deliver his traditional pitch for him to stay.

“Usually around this time it’s all in the papers with what he’s going to do, but there hasn’t been much talk about what he’s going to do,” Hughes said.

“He probably wouldn’t want that to distract anyone. He likes to keep that close to his chest with what he’s going to do, but I’m sure he’ll reach out soon.

“It probably hasn’t been spoken about as much as previous years, but I guess it’s that time of year when it’s probably going to come up now.

“He’s probably going to have to make a decision soon, and I’m sure ‘Mun’ will be back in his office to get him to stay another year.

“He’s such a great coach and such a great mentor for all of us players. The longer he stays, the better. But for me, it’s whatever’s best for him and his family.

“I can’t see him hanging it up too soon because he’d get bored at home in his mansion. I’m sure he’ll go around again.”

Bellamy could well add another premiership this season with the Storm favourites with the bookies to go all the way, but they’ll need to be better than they were in the win over the Titans.

They’ve been fairly inconsistent in recent weeks but should get skipper Harry Grant back for Friday’s home game against the Cowboys after he was rested for the trip north.

“It was a scrappy win, but it was good to get those scrappy wins,” Hughes said.

“It’s not always going to be pretty, so it’s good to get one of those out of the way and know that we can win that way.”