League great Steve Roach believes Craig Bellamy has already decided on his future and has urged him to announce it to the rugby league world immediately.
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Bellamy is weighing up a reported $6million, five-year deal from St George Illawarra.
He also has an offer from his current employer, the Melbourne Storm, to finish his coaching career there.
A statement from Bellamy is looming, but Roach believes it should be made sooner rather than later ‘‘so both clubs can get on with business’’.
When Bellamy first spoke about his offer from the Dragons, he stipulated at the time that ‘‘the important thing is, I don’t want this dragging on. The decision needs to be made in January.’’
He backed up that statement with ‘‘or certainly before we go to England for the World Club Challenge.’’
January has passed us by.
The World Club Challenge is in 20 days time.
The Storm leave Melbourne for their European tour of duty in 10 days.
Dragons coach Steve Price has declared publicly that the situation is having no effect on him, his coaching or his side’s pre-season campaign.
But Roach finds that hard to believe, saying ‘‘it’s only natural’’ for the uncertainty to be affecting not only Price but the entire Dragons business.
‘‘It’s tough on the players and the coaching staff and the head coach and whoever else is involved in the club, including the fans, by not knowing,’’ Roach told the Mercury.
‘‘If you’re a player, you’re definitely thinking about it.
‘‘If you’re the coach, you can’t not be thinking about it.
‘‘It’s easy to say you don’t worry about it but it’s only natural to worry about it, isn’t it?
‘‘It’s your job on the line at the end of the day.’’