BRAD FITTLER has ruled himself out of coaching NSW if the job becomes available for next year, saying his commitment to coaching the Roosters was such that he would not be able to find the time or energy to stack the State of Origin role on top of that.

Doubts remain over whether Craig Bellamy will continue as Blues coach after he failed to shoot down suggestions he would quit following Queensland's series win at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.

Speaking yesterday, Bellamy's manager, John Fordham, said the Melbourne coach remained undecided, adding: "Craig won't be making a call on whether he is interested in the job again for next year for some time yet. He hasn't got a definite view one way or the other, at this stage. That's something he'll think about."

A host of names including Fittler, Tim Sheens, John Cartwright, Laurie Daley and Andrew Johns have already been mentioned as potential replacements if Bellamy does pull the plug.

In June last year, Fittler - an Origin hero as a player for the Blues - told the Herald he would jump at the chance to join the NSW coaching staff as an assistant for the series just gone. But that was before he became an NRL head coach. He was still an assistant to Chris Anderson at the Roosters when he made that comment. Now he has been in charge at the club for nearly 12 months, his thinking has changed.

"I think I underestimated the amount of energy and time you need to do a head coach's job properly," Fittler said yesterday. "I know what it takes now and I would have to say that if the NSW job did become available, I wouldn't be putting my hand up. I wouldn't want to be considered.

"I absolutely love the job at the Roosters, but it is a massive job. It's a demanding role. You can't really know how much is involved until you do it and at this stage of my career, I wouldn't be in a position where I would consider trying to add something to that. I'm contracted to the Roosters until the end of next year and I'll be concentrating on that."

Fittler said experience meant Bellamy, who has had huge success as Melbourne coach and is sure to get the Blues job again if he wants it, was better equipped to handle the the dual role in charge of the Storm and NSW.

"He's been coaching for a lot longer than I have, so I guess he would have learned how to manage things pretty well," Fittler said. "He's a top coach, but if he doesn't want the job, then there are other top coaches they could consider. I don't think you have to be an NRL coach to be an Origin coach. Mal [Meninga] does a pretty good job for Queensland."

Fordham, who also manages Johns, said he could not see the former Newcastle and NSW champion wanting to take the step up from assistant coach with the Blues this year to head coach. "I haven't discussed this with Andrew, but I can't see how he would be able to fit in a head coach's role, or even a joint coaching role with Laurie Daley, as has been suggested," Fordham said. "He has television commitments to fulfil during Origin time. What he has done this year with the NSW team has been very much as a consultant."

NSW Rugby League general manager Geoff Carr said yesterday that Bellamy would have plenty of time in which to decide whether he wanted to continue coaching the Blues.

Melbourne chief executive Brian Waldron said he could only guess whether Bellamy would decide to stick with the Blues, adding: "We're comfortable with whatever Craig decides to do on that front. It's one of those things we'll have to wait and see on."