MELBOURNE Storm captain Cameron Smith believes Craig Bellamy's re-signing to the National Rugby League premier as coach until 2013 is a sign that the club is not about to be cannibalised as has been predicted.

Bellamy yesterday announced he would be staying for a further five years in a deal speculated to be worth more than $2 million.

The respected coach has been the centre of a bidding war between the Storm and Brisbane Broncos, who had him as the top choice to replace the departing Wayne Bennett.

Bellamy's presence means a number of the Storm's stars, such as Cameron Smith and Greg Inglis who have get-out clauses in their contracts if Bellamy left, were now locked into the club's immediate future.

"Obviously, Craig is an important part of anyone's decision of where they are going to go and he holds a lot of weight when contracts come around," Smith said.

"But at the end of the day, there's a lot of factors in deciding which club you want to play for."

Smith said the team was relieved by the news as speculation about Bellamy's future was becoming a distraction. "I think it's a bit of a relief for all the boys in the team … The boys were very happy when (he) told us he was staying," Smith said.

"We tried not to let it unsettle us too much with our football but it's always there in the back of our mind because we regard him as the No. 1 coach in the game and we would have been pretty disappointed if he left."

Bellamy yesterday said he had been poised to make the jump to the Broncos at the end of his contract next year to be closer to his children, but had been swayed by the potential of the Storm.

"One of the real positives for me is the type of club we've got here," Bellamy said. "It's got a great culture here at the moment and I really admire the playing group — not only as footy players, but as people, and that was real attractive for me staying here.

"… The footy and administrative staff are very committed to making rugby league work in Melbourne … Obviously as time goes on, you sway to-and-fro … certainly (there were) a couple of stages there it was probably 60-40 that I was going to go."

Bellamy said his children, who lived in Brisbane and who both had finished high school, supported him staying in Melbourne.

"They were the main reason I was thinking of going back to the Broncos … I miss them a whole heap living down here," he said. "But they were really supportive through the whole episode … they wanted me to do what I wanted to do what was best for my footy career."

Storm chief executive Brian Waldron agreed Bellamy's long-term commitment created "stability" at the Storm.

"… We'd be silly to think (him leaving) wouldn't impact, we don't have to worry about it now," Waldron said.

"(The contract) is commensurate with Craig's standing in the game, as it should be. We believe we have the best coach and he needs to be well looked after and rewarded."

Bellamy informed both clubs yesterday morning of his decision, although it is believed that Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen had told Waldron at rugby league's Centenary Ball on Thursday night that he knew Bellamy was not coming to Brisbane.

The Age also believes that News Ltd — which owns the Storm and Broncos — was crucial to the deal as it viewed Bellamy being crucial to the club's continued success in AFL-obsessed Melbourne.

■Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes has declared his interest in becoming the next coach of the Broncos.

While Broncos assistant coach Ivan Henjak and St Helens's Daniel Anderson have firmed as favourites, Folkes confirmed last night that he would be interested — but only if Cullen made the first move.

Bellamy's assistant and former Kiwi International Stephen Kearney is another possible candidate.

With ANDREW WEBSTER