NRL greats slam Titans "push" for Bellamy over Hannay

A number of rugby league legends have been left bewildered over reports that the Gold Coast Titans are interested in acquiring Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy as their head coach for 2027.

That is despite hiring Josh Hannay as head coach until the 2028 season. Reports surfaced on Tuesday that the Titans included a clause in Hannay’s contract which would see him step down to assistant coach if Bellamy were to join the Titans.

SEN’s Corey Parker is staggered by the development and believes it’s yet another misstep from Titans management who have been marred in recent years by mismanagement.

“There has been so much instability down on the Gold Coast,” Parker said on SENQ Breakfast.

“They got rid of Justin Holbrook after Round 12 (in 2023) and they were sitting ninth at that point in time. Everything was starting to look okay.

“They then brought in Des Hasler and it just didn’t work. They pulled the trigger and moved on from Des.

“They do their due diligence and look at who may suit and fit. By all reports, Josh Hannay is an innovator, he’s young, understands the game and has been involved with the Queensland Maroons and Cronulla Sharks for a number of years.

“Everyone seemed to be okay and content with it and then all of a sudden this.

“I’d expect general manager Scott Sattler to be front and centre and give everyone a clear view on what this looks like. Otherwise, this just keeps bubbling away.

“If I was Josh Hannay, I would’ve picked up the phone to Craig Bellamy straight away and ask what the chances are of him coming to the Gold Coast.

“Hannay has also denied reports that he agreed to the clause.

“The CEO Steve Mitchell needs to address this decision. The fans and players have this doubt and instability of what is going on.”

Hasler signed a three-year contract when he joined the Titans as coach in 2024 with a performance based clause in favour of the Titans.

After failing to make finals in 2025, the Titans opted to exercise that clause and moved on the veteran coach.

After four coaches in eight years, SEN’s Greg Alexander couldn’t fathom why the Titans would put their new head coach under immediate pressure before he had even started his first pre-season.

“Josh is on holiday, somewhere in the world thinking that he hasn’t even started and the Titans are already trying to get rid of him,” Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“What is going on? I can’t believe this. I can’t believe the story.

“Pandora’s box has been opened and they can’t slam it shut.

“What sort of opinion do the Gold Coast Titans have of Josh Hannay if they are looking (at Bellamy) as a back-up option?

“This is a club that has failed to deliver for decades,” veteran broadcaster Matt Russell added.

“They have advertised a new level of stability and prosperity after the removal of Des and the appointment of Josh.

“A few weeks down the track, we are now talking about whether Josh will have a role, if any, if Craig Bellamy has a role at the Titans.”

Titans CEO Steve Mitchell issued a statement in which he said the club would not comment on specific clauses in contracts.

SEN reached out to the Gold Coast Titans who declined to comment.