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Imagine the Rip competing in Premier League.
What do you all think about that?
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,19867995-14823,00.html
Central Coast on the radar for Storm
MELBOURNE Storm is on the verge of securing a foothold in one of rugby league's most fertile development nurseries.
Looking to capitalise on its front-running feats in the NRL, Storm is eyeing the New South Wales Central Coast as an area to base its interstate development program.
Storm has a feeder team arrangement with Norths Devils in Brisbane's Queensland Cup and had a similar agreement with North Sydney in the Sydney Premier League.
Melbourne chief executive Brian Waldron confirmed before last night's game against Cronulla at Olympic Park that Storm was investigating the benefits of a strategic partnership with the Central Coast Rip.
The Rip fields teams in the NSW Rugby League under-16s, under-18s and under-20s competitions, as well as the third-tier Jim Beam Cup.
Under the planned agreement with Storm, it may also be granted promotion to the Premier League competition.
"Having ensured our long-term future in Melbourne with a deal for a new stadium, with the key signatures of our coach Craig Bellamy and a host of representative class players, we are now looking to the next generation," Waldron said last night.
"Our development program in Queensland has worked very well previously. But with the Gold Coast entering the competition next year, that market is becoming more crowded.
"We would look to base our junior players on the Central Coast and to provide local juniors there, around 4000, with a pathway into rugby league that doesn't currently exist."
Under the agreement, which foundation Storm chief executive John Ribot is helping to broker with Central Coast identity and Central Coast Stadium owner John Singleton, Storm would also play a yet to be determined number of away games at Gosford.
Several Sydney teams, believed to include Wests Tigers and Cronulla, are close to agreeing to deals to transfer their home games against Storm to Gosford next season.
"This is a great opportunity in terms of development, but also to grow the Storm brand outside of just the Victorian market," Waldron said.
Asked if this was the first step towards the eventual relocation of the Storm franchise from Melbourne, Waldron said: "That is never ever going to happen. We are absolutely committed to Melbourne in every sense.
"We would not even entertain giving up one home game in Melbourne for this deal to go ahead.
"What we are hoping is by having a base there we will win the support of the rugby league-starved Central Coast locals and it could become like our home away from home."
What do you all think about that?
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,19867995-14823,00.html
Central Coast on the radar for Storm
MELBOURNE Storm is on the verge of securing a foothold in one of rugby league's most fertile development nurseries.
Looking to capitalise on its front-running feats in the NRL, Storm is eyeing the New South Wales Central Coast as an area to base its interstate development program.
Storm has a feeder team arrangement with Norths Devils in Brisbane's Queensland Cup and had a similar agreement with North Sydney in the Sydney Premier League.
Melbourne chief executive Brian Waldron confirmed before last night's game against Cronulla at Olympic Park that Storm was investigating the benefits of a strategic partnership with the Central Coast Rip.
The Rip fields teams in the NSW Rugby League under-16s, under-18s and under-20s competitions, as well as the third-tier Jim Beam Cup.
Under the planned agreement with Storm, it may also be granted promotion to the Premier League competition.
"Having ensured our long-term future in Melbourne with a deal for a new stadium, with the key signatures of our coach Craig Bellamy and a host of representative class players, we are now looking to the next generation," Waldron said last night.
"Our development program in Queensland has worked very well previously. But with the Gold Coast entering the competition next year, that market is becoming more crowded.
"We would look to base our junior players on the Central Coast and to provide local juniors there, around 4000, with a pathway into rugby league that doesn't currently exist."
Under the agreement, which foundation Storm chief executive John Ribot is helping to broker with Central Coast identity and Central Coast Stadium owner John Singleton, Storm would also play a yet to be determined number of away games at Gosford.
Several Sydney teams, believed to include Wests Tigers and Cronulla, are close to agreeing to deals to transfer their home games against Storm to Gosford next season.
"This is a great opportunity in terms of development, but also to grow the Storm brand outside of just the Victorian market," Waldron said.
Asked if this was the first step towards the eventual relocation of the Storm franchise from Melbourne, Waldron said: "That is never ever going to happen. We are absolutely committed to Melbourne in every sense.
"We would not even entertain giving up one home game in Melbourne for this deal to go ahead.
"What we are hoping is by having a base there we will win the support of the rugby league-starved Central Coast locals and it could become like our home away from home."
