Success and loyalty helped keep Craig Bellamy in Melbourne and now he'll be tasked with continuing the club's domination of the NRL into the next era.
Bellamy's new three-year deal was ratified by the Storm board on Sunday, ending a highly publicised tussle between Melbourne and Brisbane for the veteran coach's services.
It means the 58-year-old will remain in Melbourne until at least the end of 2021, some 19 seasons after he arrived at the club as a rookie in 2003.
The relationship is easily the longest current existing one in the NRL, and Bellamy admitted that was one of a number of factors that convinced him to stay in Melbourne.
"I know it's dragged on a touch more than everyone would have wanted. But it was really important to me personally that I made the right decision," Bellamy said.
"There was a lot of pros and cons, whatever you call it. Both professionally and family-wise as well.
"The attachments and relationships I've got with the playing group at Melbourne, and certainly the whole club - but the relationship I've got with the players, I really like that feeling.
"I am a pretty loyal person and the Melbourne Storm gave me my opportunity to coach in the NRL so I will always be grateful for that."
Bellamy doesn't know if this will be his last contract, nor if he's guaranteed to finish his career at the Storm.
But it's obvious a number of the players he has built his team around will no longer be there in 2021 when his deal, believed to be worth $4 million, is up.
Cooper Cronk left last year, Ryan Hoffman is expected to retire this year and Billy Slater's future is unclear.
Cameron Smith is likely to be the last of the old firm running around in 2019, with the 34-year-old indicating he is keen to stay on.
But Bellamy has already began to institute change.
Brodie Croft and Ryley Jacks have partnered with fellow youngster Cameron Munster in the halves, while Jahrome Hughes has spent time deputising for Slater at fullback and Brandon Smith for his namesake at hooker.
"I'm excited for the young guys coming through, they get to be coached by Craig for the next three years," Cameron Smith said.
"I spoke to the team at Craig's 400th game, and told them we're all very lucky and I just hoped they had the opportunity I had to be coached by Craig for a long time."
Bellamy's tally now stands at 278 wins from 409 games - his strike rate of 67.9 per cent second only to Norm Provan for coaches with more than 100 matches.
Smith has been there for the majority of those, and while he warned Bellamy that success wouldn't continue if he faced up against Melbourne, the bond they share is clear.
"I just think it's a great result for the Melbourne Storm and rugby league in Victoria," Smith said.
"He's really grown our sport in such a positive way with the way he coaches our football side and the results he's got over a long period of time."
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