Bellamy extends contract to end of 2009

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at the NRL club until at least the end of 2009.

Bellamy's previous deal didn't run out until the end of next year, but he decided to extend it now to give more certainty to himself and the club. The Storm are currently flying high atop the NRL table and play the Bulldogs in a big match on Friday night at Olympic Park.

In other Storm news, Billy Slater has been unable to force his way back into the first-grade team to play the Bulldogs after serving a second suspension. Having played only 25 minutes of football in the last 10 weeks, Bellamy felt the Queensland Origin star would be better served playing a full game this weekend with Melbourne's feeder club North Sydney.