World Cup-winning coach and Melbourne Storm assistant Stephen Kearney says he has not had talks with the Sydney Roosters, despite speculation he will take over from embattled coach Brad Fittler there next year.

Fittler's tenure at the glamour Sydney NRL club is on tenterhooks after his drunken antics in Townsville resulted in him fining himself $10,000, as well as the Roosters' woeful results.

Fittler is without a contract for next season and it's believed Kearney is in the Roosters' sights after four years with the Storm as well as overseeing New Zealand's World Cup triumph last year.

The former Kiwi international denied he had spoken to Roosters officials about the post.

"I think there's been talk saying that with regards to the Panthers job for quite some time as well," Kearney said.

"I haven't had any contact and I think it's fairly disrespectful when they've still got a coach there at the moment, and the same with the Panthers.

"I'm not interested until they've made decisions."

Kearney said he didn't want to talk in hypotheticals about whether he was ready to take over as a senior coach.

"I think if I say that I'm implying that I want the job so I don't want to do that, I'll keep those thoughts to myself."

But Melbourne head coach Craig Bellamy believed Kearney would be ready, if he wanted to take the step up.

"He's coached New Zealand so I think he could handle a club job if he wants it, it's up to him," Bellamy said.

"I'd imagine he'd be ready."

Kearney is contracted to Melbourne for 2010 but Bellamy said he would have no issue with him leaving to take on a senior role elsewhere.

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