Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has delivered a stern warning to The Dolphins as they embark on building their inaugural roster for the 2023 NRL season.
Having been given the green light from the NRL last week to enter the competition in two years, the Redcliffe based club can begin talking to players off contract at the end of 2022 from November 1 this year.
With Queensland representative stars Christian Welch and Felise Kaufusi coming off contract next season in Melbourne, and Cameron Munster and Harry Grant ending their deals a year later, talk has already begun that The Dolphins will make a play to bring a raft of Storm guns home.
But Bellamy insists the second Brisbane side won’t be getting any contracted player out of the Storm unless they “get something” in return.
“If they want someone still on contract, they will not be leaving unless we get something for them,” Bellamy told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I’m not even sure what they can give us because they don’t have any players.
“We’re not just going to give a player away who fits into our system. And everyone at the Storm is on board with that opinion.”
While The Dolphins aren’t legally allowed to contact players about potential contracts for another two weeks, Bellamy says they’re probably doing it secretly already.
“(The Dolphins) arenot meant to be approaching our players until November 1,” Bellamy said.
“If they’re not doing it publicly, they’re probably doing it privately.”
While the master coach admits the new club will have clash to splash, he’s hoping that the Storm’s culture can keep them tied to Melbourne.
“They (The Dolphins) will have a lot of money,” he said.
“If players are tempted by money, they will be a good chance of getting them. But there are other things besides money for some people.”
The Dolphins will play their first NRL game in Round 1, 2023.