LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
NSW are in need of a new coach, but Craig Bellamy has ruled himself out of the running for the Blues coaching job.
The Melbourne Storm master coach has made it clear that he won't be the one to lead the team to victory, putting a definite end date on his time at the helm by declaring he won't be coaching into his seventies.
As the NRL grand final approaches, Bellamy's name, along with that of his grand final rival Ivan Cleary, have been mentioned as potential replacements for the recently departed Michael Maguire.
However, Bellamy, who previously had a short-lived and unsuccessful stint with NSW, believes that the job should go to someone who isn't currently tied up with an NRL club.
The 65-year-old coach, who was named the Dally M coach of the year, and Cleary, a highly respected figure in the game, are both top contenders for the role.
While Cleary has received strong endorsement from his players, he remained coy when questioned about the coaching vacancy.
At a fan event in Circular Quay, when asked if he was interested in the job, Cleary cheekily replied, "Is that for me?" It seems that the Blues will have to look elsewhere for their next coach, as Bellamy focuses on leading the Storm to victory in the grand final.