“Pretty confident”: Former Storm player names expected Bellamy successor

Former Melbourne Storm player Sandor Earl has given his thoughts on who will be the successor to Craig Bellamy at the club.

For the last 24 seasons, Storm fans have not known a world where the 68-year-old has been anything but their head coach.  

Throughout his time in the top job, Bellamy has won five premierships (two of which were stripped due to salary cap breaches) whilst maintaining a 69% win percentage (the highest by an NRL coach, min. 60 matches).

Despite his age, the former NSW coach has not let that get in his way, having extended his existing contract to 2028 as of this February.

But after Bellamy was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder in April, there are doubts he’ll see through his current contract.

As a result, speculation has risen as to who will succeed him once he decides to leave.

One of the names that has been thrown up is Queensland coach and former Storm player Billy Slater, with club chairman Matt Tripp admitting he’ll be considered for the role.

And Earl, who played between 2018 and 2020 with the club, believes the superstar fullback would be a great choice.

“I'd say I'm pretty confident it's gonna happen,” Earl told SEN’s Morning Glory with Matty Johns.

“And it is an absolute dream come true.

“Over the last three or four years, there's been rumours that Craig's gonna retire and who's the succession plan, there was (Jason) Ryles, there was the assistant coaches.

“But I've said this so many times, how underrated the impact Billy Slater has on that Queensland team.

“It's one thing to rally the troops and bring in that Queensland spirit, but the tactical ability that he has.

“And we were just talking about basketball; I reference him as the Kobe Bryant of rugby league.

“He is so detailed, so committed, so consistent, so passionate, and to think that a club legend with his ability and coaching style is gonna come in and be the succession plan for Craig Bellamy."

The Melbourne Storm have their first bye of the season this week.

Their next clash is against the Canberra Raiders at AAMI Park on June 21, with the match beginning at 4:05pm AEST.