Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy hurt by ‘personal’ criticism

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy acknowledges he’s been upset by criticism of his NRL coaching style, but he won’t comment on his future.

A public defense of their coach by players like Cameron Munster followed Bellamy’s alleged encouragement of an illegal tackle culture at the Storm.

Bellamy, who is in his 19th season with Melbourne, is allegedly thinking about retiring at the end of the season rather than having his contract extended because of the criticism.

Prior to the Storm’s Good Friday match at AAMI Park against Brisbane, Bellamy said that he was offended by allegations that his strategies had injured opponents.

He is charged of inventing several illegal tackles, including the rolling pin, hip drop, crusher, grappling tackle, and chicken wing.

While the Broncos aim to lure Bellamy north as a coaching director, he declined to discuss his future plans in response to a question regarding his moral character.

The 61-year-old claimed on Thursday, “It got personal.”

To be really honest, it stung because it is untrue.

“It’s definitely not the case that I coach guys to go out and maim other players,” the athlete said.

The Storm lodged an official complaint with the NRL and Fox Sports in response to Munster’s remarks that he had “had a gutful” of criticism of the team.

Munster stated, “No one sets out to do anything malicious or harmful to athletes.”

“I feel like they’ve been talking some very rude things about the club.”

Melbourne believes they are in a strong position to keep Bellamy on as head coach for an extended period of time, even though Storm chairman Matt Tripp has given him more time to decide.

Bellamy is handling a family member’s illness, thus he has postponed the decision.