sport news Melbourne Storm players BOOED when they heard Craig Bellamy wasn't retiring ... trends now
Melbourne have Andrew 'Joey' Johns to thank for Craig Bellamy signing on for another season, with the master coach saying the former NRL star persuaded him to stay.
But the coaching mastermind has revealed his players had a very cheeky reaction when they heard he'd be sticking with the club instead of retiring.
The Storm announced on Wednesday that Bellamy would be at the helm for an incredible 21st season in 2023.
But when CEO Justin Rodski told the players the notoriously hard taskmaster known as 'Bellyache' was returning next season, they didn't exactly cheer and applaud.
'They were all good - there was a bit of booing but it was in the right spirit,' Bellamy told the Daily Telegraph.
The coach said Johns called him a few weeks ago while he was still deciding whether to remain as coach or move to a part-time director of coaching role with the NRL club.
Bellamy (pictured centre with Storm stars Jesse Bromwich, left, and Christian Welch, right) has propelled Melbourne to incredible success - but his players weren't exactly overjoyed when they discovered he is returning in 2023
Bellamy has taken the Storm to three grand final wins in his 20 years with the club and the team has hardly ever been out of contention for a title
'It took a while to get there and there were a few things that stalled the decision,' Bellamy said.
'I turned a bit of a corner when I had a chat to Joey Johns - Andrew rang me a couple of weeks ago and made a couple of points and it seemed to make a bit of sense to me and that swung me the way I decided to go.'
Bellamy didn't want to illuminate their conversation but said he appreciated the input from Johns.
'I will leave that between me and Joey but I appreciate him ringing me up and that was the main thing that turned me.'
Johns later revealed what the pair talked about.
'I pretty much said you are crazy if you finish up, you have so much to offer,' the Newcastle legend said.
'You talk about the best coaches ever and he is in the top three. What he has done with that club — the club has totally reinvented itself two or three
