EXCLUSIVE: Craig Bellamy Documentary Reveals the Unseen Gentle Side of the Legendary Coach

In a recent documentary featuring Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy, there’s a moment where two mugs crash together in his office, sending pieces of china flying across his desk.

However, the broken crockery isn’t due to another one of Bellamy’s well-known fiery outbursts—those dramatic displays often seen from him in the coaches’ box; a trademark for a man synonymous with a record of success alongside the celebrated “big three” from the club.

Instead, the mishap is the consequence of his nine-year-old granddaughter Billie innocently swinging her arms with a mug in each hand, resulting in an accidental clang.

“Ooohhh, you need to be careful, ‘Bills’,” jokes Bellamy, spinning in his chair with a slight grin.

He leans back, still sporting that half-smile, as Billie waves a dog-shaped balloon in front of him.

This light-hearted episode grants a rare glimpse into the gentler nature of Bellamy, often overshadowed by his tough exterior—a toughness that has been pivotal in the exceptional success he has cultivated for the Storm since arriving before the 2003 season.

The Stan original documentary Revealed: Craig Bellamy – Inside the Storm debuts on Sunday, March 9, exclusively on Stan.

Bellamy believes that since Billie’s arrival, his intensity has eased a bit.

“I reckon I started to mellow around that time,” reflects the 65-year-old, speaking to Wide World of Sports.

“That’s probably the best way to put it.”

Since stepping up from his apprenticeship under Wayne Bennett at the Broncos to take over from Mark Murray at the Storm, Bellamy has led Melbourne to three premierships and six minor premierships—excluding the titles the club lost due to the salary cap breach.

He has also secured finals appearances for the Storm every year except 2010, when the club was barred from accumulating competition points because of its notorious salary cap rorting, a situation Bellamy was officially cleared of involvement in.

Three of his grandchildren are the children of his son Aaron, who serves as an assistant coach at the Storm.

Aaron began his career as a video and data analyst with the Victorian club over a decade ago, eventually moving into the coaching team at the conclusion of the 2015 season.

In the documentary, he discloses a cheeky tactic the Storm players devised that involved bringing their children around during reviews.

“I remember in the early days when the kids arrived, if we had a poor game, the boys would say, ‘Aaron, can you bring the kids down to the review so we can avoid a spray?’,” he chuckles.

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Many within the Storm, including star five-eighth Cameron Munster, concur with Bellamy’s view that he has relaxed a fair bit since becoming a grandfather.

“Before that, I was very much set in my ways regarding footy—it was my way or the highway,” Bellamy recalls, originally from the working-class town of Portland in NSW.

“I would assert to the players, ‘This is how it’s going to be,’ and that would be the end of it.

“However, when Billie came along, I realised just how enriching it is to have her in my life, and that’s when I began to become more receptive to others’ input.”

“You think football is everything when you’re playing, but having kids reminds you that it doesn’t all revolve around footy. The same realisation has occurred with my grandchildren in coaching.”

Bellamy and his wife Wendy are parents to two—son Aaron and daughter Rachel—and have four grandchildren: Billie, Bowie, Sunny, and Poppy.

Aaron may not have enjoyed a 150-game tenure with the Canberra Raiders, nor did he train under Bennett, but renowned Storm fullback Billy Slater believes his “football intellect is unparalleled”.

Bellamy acknowledges the significance of having a professional bond with his son.

“I don’t dwell on it much, I doubt he does either, but when you take a moment to reflect, it’s pretty special,” he said, revealing another glimpse of the warmth beneath his tough facade.

“I’m not sure he sees it that way,” he laughs, “but I feel incredibly fortunate to work closely with my son and spend so much time with him.”

Behind these emotional reflections lies a tragic story—when Bellamy was younger than his son is now, his father Norm tragically lost his life in a mining incident.

Bellamy acknowledges that he and Aaron have their differences.

“I can be a bit hot-headed occasionally, but he tends to maintain his composure… plus, our age gap means we have different perspectives,” Bellamy admits.

“We enjoy a great working relationship, and one of the best things is that if he has something to contribute, he isn’t shy about voicing it; he’ll express his thoughts candidly and I make sure to listen.”

This Sunday, Bellamy will launch into his 24th premiership season as the Storm faces off against the Eels at AAMI Park.

Fans can expect to see Bellamy’s usual high-octane coaching style in the box, which may well be tested with another spirited Bellamy outburst. Regardless of the match outcome, he’ll be seen sauntering around the sheds with one of his grandchildren cradled in his arms.

Former Storm forward Ryan Hinchcliffe commented in the documentary, “We used to call them the tranquilisers because they’d just chill him out.”

“It’s vital for me,” asserts Bellamy, “that family comes first, while football is secondary, and from there, everything falls into place.”