Craig Bellamy says delegating some of his NSW State of Origin duties has him confident he can successfully combine coaching both the Blues and Melbourne Storm in 2009.

Bellamy agreed to take on the NSW job last week - a surprise considering he had been considering stepping down because of the heavy workload at a key time of the Storm's NRL season.

But Bellamy said he and NSW Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr had come up with constructive ways to reduce his off-field commitments with the Blues to allow him to concentrate more on on-field matters.

"The thing I had to consider was the time commitment to Origin and the time commitment to Melbourne," Bellamy said.

"We've come up with a couple of ways that can help me time-wise, and now I'm sure I can fit it all in.

"It's something I really wanted to do again, coach NSW.

"Last year I really enjoyed the involvement with the players and hopefully we can go one better this year."

Bellamy guided NSW to victory in game one, before Queensland hit back in games two and three to win the series.

He also guided defending premiers the Storm to the grand final, though they were trounced by Manly in the premiership decider.

Bellamy returned to work with the Storm on Monday, taking his first pre-season session after a brief holiday.

The Storm have already locked in three pre-season matches for 2009, starting with a re-match with their qualifying final conquerors New Zealand Warriors in Hamilton, New Zealand, on February 12.

They will also play Newcastle at Melbourne's Princes Park on February 21, and round off their preparation with a match against Brisbane in Caloundra on February 28.

AAP