Bellamy re-signs as NSW Origin coach
NSW Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr says no one is more qualified than Craig Bellamy to lead the Blues in next season's State of Origin series.
NSW announced on Wednesday that Melbourne's Bellamy will continue as coach despite leading the Blues to two successive series defeats.
"He is the best coach in the game and we have only lost the last two series by a hair's breadth," Carr told AAP.
"We feel with some exciting young players like the Morris brothers and Michael Jennings coming through we have a great chance of winning the next series."
Carr also admitted that selectors hadn't always made the right choices, but said the emergence of players such as Jarryd Hayne and Anthony Watmough as superstars will give the Blues the edge in 2010.
"He probably didn't have the best players available to him for some of the games he has been in charge of but we are confident he can bring us success," Carr said.
"There is no one better qualified available out there than Craig, he has won two premierships and taken a team to four successive grand finals. That record speaks for itself.
"No one else in the game can boast a record like that in recent years."
NSW have not won a series since 2005 with the Maroons ruling the roost for an unprecedented four years in succession.
However, Carr said the mood in the camp following the victory over Queensland in Brisbane in Origin III last July was one of excitement for the future.
"The players also know Craig is the best man for the job and I am sure they will be delighted he is coming back to oversee our bid to win back an Origin series," he said.
Carr also said Bellamy did not hesitate to accept the offer of a third year in charge when he was approached by the NSW board.
"There was no problem in getting him to return, his desire still burns strong and I think he feels that there is some unfinished business to attend to," he said.
"He is a winner and we want to give him the chance to make us winners again."
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.