The backers behind a bid to create a second NRL team in Brisbane have reportedly earmarked Craig Bellamy as the man to coach the side.
Though one league insider is tipping the two-time premiership winning coach to end his career with the Storm.
Bellamy has been in charge at Melbourne since 2003, qualifying for eight grand finals in that time for four wins (two were stripped for salary cap breaches).
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New ARL Commission boss Peter V'Landys is understood to be keen on introducing a 17th team to the competition, with a second Brisbane team the most likely choice.
A report by The Courier Mail's Peter Badel claims Bellamy has been in touch with Craig Davison, director of the Brisbane Bombers bid.
Former league star and media personality Matthew Johns spoke about the story on Friday.
"(V'Landys) has come out and said 'there's not going to be a Perth team, we're aiming for another Brisbane team,' which will come in in a few years' time," Johns said on SEN.
"The consortium called Brisbane Bombers, who are trying to become that team have come out and said 'we want Bellamy to be our coach'."
Bellamy's current deal with the Storm runs out at the end of the 2021 season, seeing the timing line up for a possible 2023 introduction to the competition for the Bombers.
Johns said if the 61-year-old wants to take on one last challenge, the Bombers might stand a chance at luring him north.
"It'll take a lot to get Bellamy out of Melbourne, but it might be that point that he's done everything in Melbourne and thinks it can be my final hurrah and get it done," Johns added.
"Half the teams in the NRL would say 'we've got the desire one day to get Craig Bellamy as a coach'.
"So even if he does decide to move out of Melbourne, they're going to have some competition, but I think he'll finish his coaching career at the Melbourne Storm.
"What he's done there has been absolutely unbelievable, they've been the team of the last 20 years."
Bellamy last December said he might bow out of coaching at the end of his contract, so it would take a very attractive offer to change his mind.
"I've got another two years to go on this contract here, so I see that as (the end), but again I probably shouldn't say that because that might change," he said.
"I've been doing it (coaching) for a fair while now and there's probably a couple other things I'm thinking I might like doing in a couple years' time.
"I'm thinking that will be the end of my career as a head coach anyway."
