Bellamy accepts Country role

Melbourne Storm mentor Craig Bellamy has been reappointed to coach the Country Origin team next season for the annual rugby league clash against City.

Bellamy today accepted the NSW Country rugby league's invitation to retain the post he held for the first time this year, where he guided it to a 29-22 loss in Lismore in May. Bellamy's re-appointment to the Country position comes after his bid to take up the vacant Queensland Origin coaching role was derailed by a passionate group of former Maroon players.

They said they didn't want to see a New South Welshman in charge of the Queensland side in Origin football.

Bellamy is currently in camp with the Australian side where he is an assistant to Wayne Bennett, helping prepare the Kangaroos for Saturday night's Tri-Nations tournament opener against New Zealand in Sydney.