EXCLUSIVE: Corey Parker claims he would 'struggle to turn up' amid Titans coaching 'storm'

Corey Parker has reacted with bewilderment to reports claiming the Titans are scheming to have Josh Hannay replaced by Craig Bellamy as head coach after just one season in charge — and reports suggesting Hannay was originally unaware of the alleged plan.

Parker labelled the plot "a bit rich", said if he was in the same position he would "struggle to turn up" to coach, and tipped Hannay to walk into a "storm" upon his return from an off-season holiday.

In August, the Titans unveiled Hannay as Des Hasler's successor as head coach and said he'd signed a three-year deal. The club didn't explicitly say he'd signed for three years as head coach, but its statement suggested so.

READ MORE: Tigers star set to quit after wife's ruthless axing

READ MORE: 'So they should': Cox's frank admission after Curnow coup

READ MORE: Bulldogs coach target of alleged $100k extortion plot

This month, AAP reported Hannay had agreed to a clause in his contract whereby Bellamy could take over as head coach after the 2026 season, demoting Hannay to an assistant role.

Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell addressed the speculation without clarifying Hannay's contract, while the 45-year-old coach told News Corp he had not agreed to the aforementioned clause.

"If Josh Hannay does not know, or didn't know, about the clause in the contract, I put myself in that position, I would struggle to turn up to go and coach the side for 12 months to then do what?" Parker told Wide World of Sports.

"Are you just an assistant again for another 12 months? All of a sudden you were hunted to be this number one guy, and [if] in the background they're hunting for someone else and you're unaware about it, it doesn't really give you much confidence.

"He's made it known he doesn't want to go to another club to be an assistant. He spent that time under Fitzy [Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon]. He wants to be a head coach. I think his time is right as a head coach.

"They [the Titans] went and signed him. To do a 12-month deal and then look for someone else, I think that's a bit rich.

"I can't imagine he'd be turning up for 12 months and then parking himself beside Craig."

Bellamy has committed to Melbourne for 2026, which will mark his 24th year at the helm of the Storm, but what the 66-year-old does next remains a mystery.

When news filtered through this month that Bellamy and his wife had purchased a $3.5 million apartment in Coolangatta, speculation of the legendary coach angling for a move to the Titans became rife.

Hannay's Titans job is his first as an NRL head coach and follows assistant gigs with the Cowboys, Sharks and Maroons.

Watch the 2025 rugby league Ashes series live and free on Nine and 9Now.

"Josh Hannay whilst holidaying overseas has made it known that he didn't have any idea that there was a contract with a clause in it," Parker added.

"If that is the case I certainly feel for Josh and I guess he's somewhat been blindsided.

"If it's not the case and he's well and truly aware of their future plans, that being Craig Bellamy [taking over], and he's OK with it, not an issue in the world, not a drama.

"But at this stage we're led to believe that Josh Hannay had no idea about the alleged signing of Craig Bellamy, and we haven't heard anything from the Titans [that clarifies the situation].

"If what we're reading is correct and Josh comes back — he's away on holidays — he's coming back into a storm of media going, 'What's going on?'

"I understand if Craig hasn't made those decisions, but certainly if Josh is aware of it, they [the Titans] need to front the media and just let their fans know where they're going."

Watch the 2025 Pacific Championships live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Parker was announced last week as an ambassador of the 2025 World Supercross Championship Australian Grand Prix, taking place on the Gold Coast on November 29.

The Broncos legend has four kids and all of them ride dirt bikes.

"It's pretty cool," Parker said.

"Being a father of four and spending weekends out at the motocross track, it was only fitting.

"And when I was talking to the kids and the opportunity came across the desk it was a no-brainer from our point of view.

"I live vicariously through the kids in regards to what they can do on a bike at a motocross track, and what I can do," he added with a laugh.