Bellamy favourite to lead Kangaroos

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has emerged as favourite to lead the Kangaroos to the 2008 World Cup following the sudden resignation of Wayne Bennett.

The 55-year-old Bennett ended his two-year reign a fortnight after Australia suffered an embarrassing 24-0 defeat by New Zealand in the Gillette Tri-Nations Series final in Leeds, their first series loss since 1978.

Bellamy, Bennett’s assistant with the national side and former right-hand man at Brisbane Broncos, is now the man most likely to take over, with former Leeds coach Graham Murray also thought to be in the reckoning.

Bellamy has previously stated his desire to take on the role and has already cut his teeth in representative football by coaching Country against City earlier this year.

“We certainly wouldn’t stand in his way,” said Melbourne chief executive Brian Waldron.

“It’s quite clear Craig’s number one priority is to us. We obviously employ him and we’ve got some clear expectations going forward of what we expect of our senior coach.

“Having said that, I would have thought the opportunity to coach you’re country, you’d be derelict in your duties as an employer if you weren’t to give someone such as Craig the opportunity to do that.”

North Queensland’s Murray has also indicated he would be interested in the position while Penrith’s John Lang could be a chance to re-ignite his representative coaching career after guiding the Australian Super League side in 1997.

The Australia Rugby League were due to discuss the position – and re-appoint Bennett – at their meeting on Monday but are now likely to put off any decision until January or February.

Meanwhile, Bennett delivered a parting shot to the media, accusing them of hounding Wallaby coach Eddie Jones out of his job.

“The media speculation over my position was not a factor in this decision,” he told the Brisbane Courier Mail.

“If media speculation had ever affected me, I would have been gone from the coaching ranks a long, long time ago. At the same time, I am increasingly frustrated by the way the media in this country treat our sporting coaches.

“They hunted Eddie Jones and eventually they got him; they hunted Frank Farina (Socceroos) and eventually they got him; they hunted John Buchanan (cricket) during and after the Ashes series and they almost got him too.

“Well, they’re not going to get me. I’m just not going to play the negativity game with them.”

Bennett added: “I don’t want to give the impression I haven’t enjoyed my short second stint as Australian coach. I have – especially the camaraderie of the players and working again with (assistant coach) Craig Bellamy.

“I also was part of one of the greatest performances by a Kangaroos team in 2004 and part of one of the worst this year, so it’s certainly been a rollercoaster ride.

“I’m confident I’m leaving international rugby league in better shape than when I got involved two years ago. Australia wanted genuine competition from New Zealand and Great Britain. That’s what the Tri-Nations provided.”