Daley’s Blues handed bumper blow with big Bellamy call; veteran Eel’s career in limbo: NRL Daily

The Blues are set to be without master coach Craig Bellamy for the 2026 Origin series, with the Storm mentor reportedly stepping away from his role.

Bellamy acted as an advisor to Laurie Daley during the 2025 series, but according to WWOS, won’t remain in the position this year.

His decision is yet to be made public, but it comes after the legendary coach signed a fresh three-year extension to remain at the helm of the Storm.

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Bellamy reportedly feels as if leaving his team for a period of this upcoming season could hamper his side, especially with general manager of football Frank Ponissi also in Blues camp.

Last year, Daley’s NSW side downed Queensland at Suncorp Stadium in Game I before losing the next two fixtures to give away a series for the taking.

It looks unlikely Bellamy will be replaced in the advisory role for the 2026 series.

EEL’S CAREER IN LIMBO

The career of former NSW Blues forward and Parramatta Eels veteran Ryan Matterson is currently in limbo at the moment after he reportedly suffered another concussion during pre-season training.

Suffering multiple concussions throughout the course of his playing career, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the 31-year-old sustained yet another one during pre-season training and is currently seeking medical opinion on his health and future.

Already out of favour at the Eels, the incident couldn’t have come at a worse time for Matterson, who is looking to revive his career after spending the majority of last season on loan with the Warrington Wolves in the Super League.

Contracted until the end of 2026, he has recently been linked with a move to the Melbourne Storm.

It is understood that the Storm and Eels held discussions about the former picking up the remainder of his salary as part of compensation to lure Zac Lomax to their club.

In an interview with NRL.comin 2018, Matterson opened up on dealing with the effects of concussions.

“The last one was different, I got pins and needles down my leg and knew something was up. As the night went on it got worse and worse,” Matterson said at the time.

“I couldn’t leave to go anywhere. I was dizzy, I had sensitivity to light and noise. I was getting tired easily.

“With the head, it’s a touchy subject because not many people know about it and only me as an individual knows how I feel. I felt lonely sometimes because no one understood what I was going through.

“Mum and Dad live around the corner, my brother’s living with me and my girlfriend. I was very worried, started seeing neurologists, chiropractors ... I was seeing everybody.”

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WILLIE PETERS KEEN ON NRL SWITCH

Fresh off leading Hull KR to a stunning upset against the Brisbane Broncos to claim the 2026 World Club Challenge, Willie Peters has confirmed interest in being named the inaugural head coach of the PNG Chiefs.

One of the hottest coaching prospects in rugby league at the moment, Peters’ stocks have rocketed over the past 12 months due to winning four different trophies as well as being an assistant under Kevin Walters for the Australian Kangaroos.

Formerly a halfback for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Peters has transformed Hull KR into a rugby league powerhouse since taking over the coaching reins in 2023.

Likely to be in the frame for the vacant England head coaching position, the 46-year-old admits that he has sights on the PNG Chiefs head coaching job.

This comes as former South Sydney Rabbitohs and current Papua New Guinea and London Broncos coach Jason Demetriou also expressed an interest in the role of the NRL’s 19th franchise.

“The short answer is I would be interested in that conversation,” Peters told Code Sports.

“It’s a unique opportunity because it is a team where you can create culture and a DNA of that club for many, many years.”

“But setting up the culture of PNG would excite me. Connection and care are the two values that I hold really closely to any team that I coach and it’s what I value.

“Living away from home, you will basically need to be a family in PNG and create a family environment. That’s something I believe I have done well here at Hull KR.

“I haven’t thought about PNG too much, but I need to look into it and find out if they are interested in a coach like myself and whether my wife and family would be interested as well.

“PNG is a massive opportunity for the game.”

Previously rejecting the Newcastle Knights, who wanted him to replace Adam O’Brien, Peters has earned the backing of Brisbane Broncos captain Adam Reynolds to one day be an NRL coach.

“He’s a coach going places. He’s done a lot of really good things in a short period of time,” Reynolds said.

“I’ve got a great relationship with Willie, though I wish the ending could have been different tonight.

“He’s just got a great mindset and philosophy, and his coaching style is brilliant. He’s got a big future, whether that’s potentially in the NRL or here, but he could definitely do it.”

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