Matty Johns tips Billy Slater to replace Craig Bellamy at the Storm after stunning Origin success 

Billie Slater has been tipped to replace Craig Bellamy at the helm of the Melbourne Storm, following an impressive coaching debut in the State of Origin opener.

Slater got his career in the coaching box off to the perfect start in his first game in charge of the Maroons, with Queensland beating New South Wales 16-10 at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Matty Johns believes the win over the Blues in Game One – Queensland’s first in Sydney in five years – could be the start of something special for Slater, suggesting the 38-year-old could return to Melbourne as a coach in the future. 

Billy Slater (right) made a successful coaching debut as Queensland beat New South Wales 16-10 in Sydney in the State of Origin opener on Wednesday night 

Matty Johns has tipped Slater to replace Craig Bellamy at the Storm

‘With all of these coaches being sacked […] I mean even by rugby league standards there’s been a lot of blood on the tracks the last three weeks […] you can’t tell me that Slater at the end of this series won’t be in high demand,’ the Newcastle great told SEN 1170’s The Run Home on Friday. 

‘Look, I think without a shadow of a doubt, if he wants to, and I think he would, he’ll be the next coach of Melbourne. I think he’ll replace Craig Bellamy’

One of the greatest players to ever grace the game, Slater spent his entire career with the Storm, playing 323 games for the club and scoring 190 tries – the second-most of any player in NRL history.

The Maroons coach won four NRL Grand Finals – two of which were stripped from Melbourne because of salary cap breaches – and lost another four over 16 years.

Slater played 16 seasons at Melbourne under Bellamy (right), winning two NRL Grand Finals

The Storm boss last month signed a new 12-month deal to remain in charge next season 

The Dally M medallist in 2011, Slater won two Rugby League World Cups with the Kangaroos and a consecutive eight State of Origin series with Queensland, before retiring at the end of the 2018 season.

Bellamy coached Slater throughout his NRL career, having joined the club in 2003, the same year the fullback arrived in Melbourne.

The 63-year-old last month penned a new 12-month deal with the Storm, which will see him taking charge of the club for the 21st season next year.

Bellamy hasn’t ruled out coaching beyond 2023 and is contracted to the Storm until the end of 2026, but has previously hinted he may consider stepping away from coaching to take up a part-time director role instead.

The former Melbourne great was appointed Queensland coach in September last year 

Johns isn’t alone in thinking Slater may make a successful NRL coach. On Thursday, former Warriors coach Tony Kemp urged the club to lure the Queenslander to New Zealand as a replacement for Nathan Brown.

The latter quit his role earlier this week after telling the Warriors he would not be relocating to Auckland and Kemp suggested his former club should keep tabs on Slater. 

‘I had to have a look what Billy Slater could do with this Origin team,’ he told SENZ Breakfast.

‘Seriously, Cam George [Warriors CEO] if you were watching last night, you want a ten-year coach, go and offer Billy the town.’