Craig Bellamy (rugby League)

Craig Bellamy (rugby League)

Craig Bellamy (born 3 October 1959 in Portland, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the NRL's Melbourne Storm club and previously coached the New South Wales State of Origin team. Bellamy also writes a column for The Australian.

Bellamy played his entire NSWRL premiership career with the Canberra Raiders during the 1980s and 90s. In Canberra he played under the likes of leading coaches Tim Sheens and Wayne Bennett, and won a grand final with the Raiders in 1990.

After a coaching apprenticeship as Wayne Bennett's assistant at the Brisbane Broncos, Bellamy was appointed head coach of News Ltd' other NRL team, the Melbourne Storm, for the 2003 season. There he has achieved success; winning the 2007 and 2009 grand finals but having both premierships stripped. He also won the minor premiership in 2011 and made the grand final again in 2012. He was the coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team until he was sacked in 2010 after three unrelenting seasons of disappointment which netted only two wins from nine matches.