Craig Bellamy will reportedly remain with Melbourne until the end of the 2018 NRL season.

The 56-year-old will inform the club on Tuesday he will extend his contract for a further two seasons, according to News Corp Australia.

Bellamy’s current deal expires at the end of the 2016 season, with a major talking point throughout the pre-season being whether he would remain at the club for a 15th and 16th season.

Bellamy has regularly maintained he wanted the decision finalised before the club kicks off their campaign against St George Illawarra next Monday night.

The decision is also likely to weigh on the mind on halfback Cooper Cronk as he decides whether to stay with the club after his contract expires.

Cronk has been linked with both the Dragons and South Sydney, but has only ever played under Bellamy in his club career.

If Cronk is to follow Bellamy’s move to remain at the club until 2018, it will keep him in Melbourne until just before his 35th birthday.

Bellamy has been at the helm of the club since 2003, having guided them to a premiership in 2012 after their 2007 and 2009 titles were stripped as a result of salary cap breaches.