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Craig Bellamy has stepped away from NSW duties to focus on Melbourne’s slump, leaving Laurie Daley to adjust his Origin coaching setup.
NSW coach Laurie Daley will be without senior adviser Craig Bellamy for this year's State of Origin series, though the Blues have retained a key figure from Melbourne's football department.
Bellamy has stepped away from his advisory role to focus fully on the Storm, who are enduring a six-game losing streak, their worst run under his tenure. The decision removes an experienced voice from Daley's inner circle as NSW look to reclaim the Origin shield after last year's series loss.
The Blues have also lost assistant coach Dean Young, who has returned to club duties with the struggling Dragons. Former NSW captain Boyd Cordner has been appointed as his replacement, adding experience to the coaching group.
Despite those changes, Daley has secured continuity through Storm general manager of football Frank Ponissi, who will remain as team performance manager. Ponissi, widely regarded as a leading administrator, has played a central role in Melbourne's sustained success and has been part of the NSW setup since 2024.
He was involved in the Blues' series win under former coach Michael Maguire and continued in the role last season, overseeing aspects of training and performance. His retention offers stability around the team environment despite the broader staff reshuffle.
Bellamy's absence is linked to the demands of balancing club and representative duties. In his advisory capacity, he had supported Daley with player assessment, selection insights and tactical input, but has now opted to prioritise the Storm's recovery.
Former Melbourne captain Cameron Smith said the decision was understandable, noting Bellamy had previously struggled to manage Origin and club commitments simultaneously. He pointed to the Storm's current position as justification for focusing entirely on the NRL campaign.
Smith also referenced Melbourne's 2012 season, when a mid-year losing streak was followed by a premiership run after a simplified approach to their play. He suggested a similar reset could help the club arrest its current slide.