Melbourne Storm & country Victoria

[Perth Red]

the game struggles to get a game played in a massive place like Perth with a strong RL support and strategic importance. NRL is clueless with these things.

Storm wouldn't go under if News pullled out tomorrow, they would still have an income around $14-15mill and not be the poorest club in the comp.

I have always been disappointed with the lack of Storm initiatives in Victoria and the VRL. It's taken over a decade to get a jnr team and a Vic based reserve team only lasted a season.

I hope if we get in we do alot better leading grass roots development.

 

[Evenflow]

How do you know?


http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...for-law-breaches/story-e6frg6nf-1225857630482

24 April 2010


There are several potential entities who have expressed an interest in buying the Storm.

Exactly, it's common knowledge Gerry Ryan (Jayco owner and one of the 4 independents) held talks with News to buy the Storm and it was News who didn't come to the party for their own more than likely selfish reasons.

When News pulls out of the Storm there's not a snowflakes chance it hell they'll fold because A. News won't pass up the millions it will take to buy them and B. Won't pass up the millions of dollars a team in the second biggest city in Australia brings to the game in pretty much every aspect.

Forgive the OP for thinking otherwise, he's obviously clueless to the ways of how big business runs....

 

[meltiger]

In fairness to Bluebags he wasn't knocking Melbourne and acknowledged they had a place in the comp. An important one.

The trial issue is a concern but surely they could convince say a Canberra to come down?


Memberships. I think people are over reacting. Let's see what their end total is. Any increase on last years total given the events of 2010 is a win for mine.


Wouldn't panic about the Rebs either. Thomas and I have said fir years on here that Union has an established base in Melbourne. They will do ok based on that but Rugby League has surpassed Union now. Storm will end up with more numbers.

 

[BDGS]

the game struggles to get a game played in a massive place like Perth with a strong RL support and strategic importance. NRL is clueless with these things.

Storm wouldn't go under if News pullled out tomorrow, they would still have an income around $14-15mill and not be the poorest club in the comp.

I have always been disappointed with the lack of Storm initiatives in Victoria and the VRL. It's taken over a decade to get a jnr team and a Vic based reserve team only lasted a season.

I hope if we get in we do alot better leading grass roots development.

That will be back in 2012.

 

[100MS]

The Melbourne Storm have played a trial match in country victoria before, it was near the NSW border and i think there was a tragic accident with one of the player having died before getting the the game.

Correction: that game was also in Albury.



Albury on the Border of NSW and VIC but in NSW.

Hi All, very newbie here (1st post ). From Melbourne and a lover of Melbourne Storm; hater of the quaint, little, local totally domestic game awful, sorry afl, lover of all football that is played proffesionally in more than 2 Countries. :lol: (Oh and I hate tennis too).

Melbourne has played a trial in country Vic. Morwell in the LaTrobe Valley, Gippsland. I do however agree and wish they would play more trials in Vic if not Melbourne.

The game in Albury was against Penrith at The Lavington Sports Club (affiliated with The Panthers). It was Matt Orfords 1st game in Storm Colours.
The tragic accident involved 5 mates of Storm player Peter Robbinson. They were on thier way down The Olympic Way from Cobar to watch Robbo play and were hit by the Melbourne to Sydney XPT at a level crossing at Gerogerry. south of Wagga. The level crossing has been replaced since with the "5 Mates Bridge"
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
David.

 

[joshreading]

The Storm have also played in Morwell at the Stadium there (used to have the Gippsland Falcons in the NSL) BUT that said I throughly agree.

The Storm should be playing a trial in Country Victoria EVERY year. Even (and maybe even preferably) against a United Victorian Rep side.

There are plenty of places that might draw ok crowds and help the growth of RL in Victoria

Morwell
Ballarat
Bendigo
Geelong
Mildura
Shepparton

There are no excuses

 

[yakstorm]

Playing a combined VRL Rep Team would be the best move for the Storm. They could simply name a side made up primarily of their 20's and NSW Cup players, and use their NRL players for more promotional purposes anyway.

It would give a boost to the VRL, plus help promote the Storm in rural Victoria and hopefully sell some memberships.

By playing the VRL team as well there is no issues of having to try and lure NRL sides down to play any trials in Victoria, though that said, if they were able to lure 1, I don't think anyone would complain about 2 trials down south.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Hi All, very newbie here (1st post ). From Melbourne and a lover of Melbourne Storm; hater of the quaint, little, local totally domestic game awful, sorry afl, lover of all football that is played proffesionally in more than 2 Countries. :lol: (Oh and I hate tennis too).

Melbourne has played a trial in country Vic. Morwell in the LaTrobe Valley, Gippsland. I do however agree and wish they would play more trials in Vic if not Melbourne.

The game in Albury was against Penrith at The Lavington Sports Club (affiliated with The Panthers). It was Matt Orfords 1st game in Storm Colours.
The tragic accident involved 5 mates of Storm player Peter Robbinson. They were on thier way down The Olympic Way from Cobar to watch Robbo play and were hit by the Melbourne to Sydney XPT at a level crossing at Gerogerry. south of Wagga. The level crossing has been replaced since with the "5 Mates Bridge"
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
David.

Thanks for the post sir. Have often crossed that bridge in the last couple of years and wondered at its naming - thought that it was named for an incident in the town's more ancient history. Lavington sports ground is a top class arena and Albury an excellently catered for city. A perfect venue for this year's city v country game.

 

[BDGS]

Hi All, very newbie here (1st post ). From Melbourne and a lover of Melbourne Storm; hater of the quaint, little, local totally domestic game awful, sorry afl, lover of all football that is played proffesionally in more than 2 Countries. :lol: (Oh and I hate tennis too).

Melbourne has played a trial in country Vic. Morwell in the LaTrobe Valley, Gippsland. I do however agree and wish they would play more trials in Vic if not Melbourne.

The game in Albury was against Penrith at The Lavington Sports Club (affiliated with The Panthers). It was Matt Orfords 1st game in Storm Colours.
The tragic accident involved 5 mates of Storm player Peter Robbinson. They were on thier way down The Olympic Way from Cobar to watch Robbo play and were hit by the Melbourne to Sydney XPT at a level crossing at Gerogerry. south of Wagga. The level crossing has been replaced since with the "5 Mates Bridge"
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
David.

Thanks for that mate.

Welcome to the forum

 

[Noa]

the game struggles to get a game played in a massive place like Perth with a strong RL support and strategic importance. NRL is clueless with these things.

Storm wouldn't go under if News pullled out tomorrow, they would still have an income around $14-15mill and not be the poorest club in the comp.

I have always been disappointed with the lack of Storm initiatives in Victoria and the VRL. It's taken over a decade to get a jnr team and a Vic based reserve team only lasted a season.

I hope if we get in we do alot better leading grass roots development.

On the reserve team, they had 3.5 teams with staff flying around Australia. Only the Warriors had the same costs and Id suspect the Vulcans were funded by the NZRL to some extent. There is a limit to how much NEWS can spend on us.

On the VRL, yes the relationship could have been better (it was an Sl/ARL thing) . Its good now, however the VRL was a complete basket case years before the Storm came along so you can blame the NSWRL/ARL for that, not the Storm.

 

[Perth Red]

one day they might look at Tassie as another possible development area?

Would be good to see the Storm link with Tassie, Cowboys with Darwin more and Reds with SA.

 

[Noa]

It doesn't matter, trials are only about getting combinations right.

:lol: they might as well play RL2 on the playstation

 

[thorson1987]

:lol: they might as well play RL2 on the playstation

As long as it's that and not rugby league live. That game was a waste of $90

 

[Brutus]

So the Storm actually make a profit now.

Interesting.

 

[Stormsally]

Playing a combined VRL Rep Team would be the best move for the Storm. They could simply name a side made up primarily of their 20's and NSW Cup players, and use their NRL players for more promotional purposes anyway.

It would give a boost to the VRL, plus help promote the Storm in rural Victoria and hopefully sell some memberships.

By playing the VRL team as well there is no issues of having to try and lure NRL sides down to play any trials in Victoria, though that said, if they were able to lure 1, I don't think anyone would complain about 2 trials down south.

That's a fantastic idea - from the Storm's point of view it wouldn't be much different than a training match - but the Storm diehards would all travel to watch the game. The Morwell game was in a blizzard, but we all carpooled our way there. Also the VRL rep team would attract their families/team mates. In reality even a rep side would get more than well and truly creamed, but if Storm put an 'emerging' side together it would be a lot of fun.

I've been to a junior 'carnival' in the Wodonga area and these clubs would benefit from the big boys coming to play.

Since most of the Storm games are at home for the first half of the season, I'm not too bothered about no Victorian based trials, but I would like to see some more in the future.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

the game struggles to get a game played in a massive place like Perth with a strong RL support and strategic importance. NRL is clueless with these things.

Storm wouldn't go under if News pullled out tomorrow, they would still have an income around $14-15mill and not be the poorest club in the comp.

I have always been disappointed with the lack of Storm initiatives in Victoria and the VRL. It's taken over a decade to get a jnr team and a Vic based reserve team only lasted a season.

I hope if we get in we do alot better leading grass roots development.

I think the Reds set up is perfect. Being owned by the WARL. They would be like the way the ARU works, using its rep teams (the Wallabies) profits to fund junior development. I really hope the Reds are successful.

 

[Bluebags1908]

one day they might look at Tassie as another possible development area?

Would be good to see the Storm link with Tassie, Cowboys with Darwin more and Reds with SA.

Funnily enough, I think the Storm played the Adelaide Rams in a trial in Hobart in 1998. Might have been the first ever game the Storm has played.

 

[Bluebags1908]

In fairness to Bluebags he wasn't knocking Melbourne and acknowledged they had a place in the comp. An important one.

The trial issue is a concern but surely they could convince say a Canberra to come down?


Memberships. I think people are over reacting. Let's see what their end total is. Any increase on last years total given the events of 2010 is a win for mine.


Wouldn't panic about the Rebs either. Thomas and I have said fir years on here that Union has an established base in Melbourne. They will do ok based on that but Rugby League has surpassed Union now. Storm will end up with more numbers.

There's no way I'm knocking the Storm's place in the competition. They are a must.

I actually think the Rebels will help the Storm in Victoria, not hinder them. Especially at junior level.

 

[meltiger]

So the Storm actually make a profit now.

Interesting.

From an auditing perspective, any funds received are included, my guess but I'd be shocked if I were wrong, is that any profit includes the News cash injection.


Melbourne AFL clubs have done exactly the same in using say KPMG to claim they are solvent when in reality they would be trading whilst insolvent if not for that cash injection


Would be extremely surprised if that's not where this "we make a profit" comes from.


Irrelevant though, were News to pull that funding, whether Sydneysiders like it or not the NRL would step in and provide the finding. As they should.

 

[meltiger]

Playing a combined VRL Rep Team would be the best move for the Storm. They could simply name a side made up primarily of their 20's and NSW Cup players, and use their NRL players for more promotional purposes anyway.

It would give a boost to the VRL, plus help promote the Storm in rural Victoria and hopefully sell some memberships.

By playing the VRL team as well there is no issues of having to try and lure NRL sides down to play any trials in Victoria, though that said, if they were able to lure 1, I don't think anyone would complain about 2 trials down south.

Steve you are kidding surely? The first graders would nearly kill those playing in the VRL

Play the 20s against them sure, but the first graders?! There is a reason the storm sends non selected players north rather than into the VRL