The Melbourne Storm have revealed the club has tabled a lucrative three-year deal to coach Craig Bellamy in the wake of a report linking the premiership-winning mentor to a switch to Brisbane.
Storm CEO Dave Donaghy told NRL.com on Tuesday night the club had presented a substantial offer to Bellamy in April.
It comes as the NRL premiers try to maintain their position as a Telstra Premiership powerhouse in the wake of Cooper Cronk's switch to the Roosters and the end nearing on the glittering careers of international stars Cameron Smith and Billy Slater.
Fox Sports reported on Tuesday night that Bellamy was in the sights of the Broncos, which raises questions about the tenure of coach Wayne Bennett, who is contracted to Brisbane until the end of 2019.
NRL.com understands Broncos CEO Paul White recently met with Bellamy in Melbourne.
"Craig has a significant three-year deal on the table with us. That's been there for a month," Donaghy said.
Asked about Brisbane's reported interest, Donaghy said: "That's a question for them. I don't care."
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NRL.com has been told Bellamy has been offered a four-year deal by the Broncos worth in the vicinity of $5 million.
Adding intrigue to the situation is that Bellamy is off contract at the Storm at the end of this season while Bennett's deal with the Broncos runs until the end of the 2019 Telstra Premiership campaign.
Bellamy, who begun his NRL coaching apprenticeship as an assistant to Bennett at the Broncos in the late 1990s, has shelved any thoughts of retirement and plans to continue his head coaching career into a 17th straight year.
The 59-year-old, who turns 60 in October, has two grandchildren living in Melbourne and told NRL.com recently he was keen to stay if he can strike the right deal with the Storm.
Bellamy has also fielded another expression of interest in his services from a third NRL club.
He has cut ties with long-standing management firm, The Fordham Company, and has signed with a new agent to help negotiate his latest contract.
He has won four grand finals as a coach, although only the 2012 and 2017 titles are in the record books after the Storm were stripped of the 2007 and 2009 premierships after systematic salary cap rorts were uncovered in 2010.
NRL Teams - Round 12
