Storm to enter a home-based team in the NSW Premier League

[Pumba]

Storm to enter a home-based team in the NSW Premier League

The Melbourne Storm has today announced it will be entering its own team in the New South Wales Premier League competition from 2010, thus ending its joint venture partnership with the Central Coast and the New South Wales Country Rugby League (NSWCRL).

The Melbourne Storm NSW Premier League team will be based in Melbourne from 2010, and play its home games at Olympic Park.

Storm CEO Brian Waldron is delighted at the prospect of the Storm having its own team in the NSW Premier League.

“We recently advised the New South Wales Country Rugby League of our decision to end our relationship with the Central Coast and submit our own team in the NSW Premier League for the 2010 season and beyond,” said Waldron.

“The outstanding development of local Victorian juniors, as seen by the recent success of our SG Ball team, has given us the confidence to focus on the growth of rugby league and rugby league players in our own backyard for the high level competitions we now find ourselves in.

“In 2010, we will have Melbourne-based teams in the Under-18 SG Ball competition, the Under 20 National Youth competition, the New South Wales Premier League and the NRL competition.

“We believe the Central Coast Storm was a worthy venture for us, however moving forward we now need to be focussing our resources into Victoria and the Melbourne metropolitan area.”

Given the recent success of Melbourne Storm teams, and the developments of the game in the Victorian market, the timing of a Melbourne-based team in the NSW Premier League couldn’t be better.

“This is an extremely significant decision,” Waldron said.

“It is confirmation of the outstanding work the Storm and its Development team has done in growing the game in this market. The fact we are now capable of providing a stand alone team in this Premier League is a wonderful endorsement for the growth of the game of Rugby League in this market.”

The NRL team has played off in the past three grand finals, winning the ultimate prize in 2007; the SG Ball team played in the 2009 grand final in its inaugural year; and the under-20 team currently sits in equal second spot on the National Youth Competition ladder.

The Storm will also move into its new home from 2010, a $280million world-class purpose built rectangular stadium for rugby league located next door to its current home ground in the Olympic Park precinct.

The 2010 Melbourne Storm Premier League team will be made up of first-grade squad players not selected to play in the NRL on any given weekend, along with players selected from the local VRL competition. In addition to the current pathway for local juniors to make their way through the SG Ball and under-20 teams to the NRL, this will provide yet another pathway to the highest level for local rugby league players.

While the addition of the Melbourne Storm NSW Premier League team has created plenty of excitement at the club, Waldron is very aware of the outstanding work done by the Central Coast Rugby League , and their understanding in this matter.

“I would like to publicly thank Terry Quinn and the board of the Central Coast Rugby League for what has been a mutually beneficial, and thoroughly enjoyable partnership over the past three seasons,” said Waldron.

“If there is a NSW NRL club looking for an area to base themselves in for the 2010 NSW Premier League and beyond, I encourage them to look at a possible joint venture partnership with the Central Coast.

“A great opportunity has arisen on the Central Coast and I can’t recommend them highly enough for any potential partnership with an NRL club.”

League Unlimited

 

[Noa]

Excellent move for the club. Will promot much more stability through the whole squad and give the Coach a much greater choice of players to pick from in the event of late changes.

 

[stormtragic]

great news..its getting closer to the day a local vic debuts for us

 

[SWISS-KID]

:crazy: are you serious? think i might move down to melbourne next year!

 

[sallymay]

im so excited can see all the other teams play too but also see the players who we have that dont get to play in the NRL

 

[LESStar58]

Huge development! And Patrick SMith reckons the code has no future outside the heartland? :roll:

Wonder if a few of the lads going around in the VRL will get a chance to play? Also, I wonder if this move away from Gosford is helping the Central Coast Bears re-instatement bid any?

 

[MsStorm]

The good news about this announcement is that its compulsory that some Victorian born players have to be included in this squad.

Very excited about this news.

 

[Bluebags1908]

This is great news for the game. This news cannot be overstated. Another senior semi-pro Rugby League side in Melbourne is fantastic for the game.

The only thing I would suggest is that this team not be called the Melbourne Storm.

For team identity and promotional reasons I would name the team after another locality, for e.g. 'Geelong Cobras' or 'Port Melbourne Pirates'. Give the team a location that would allow it over time to develop grass roots and an identity with the local community it is named after that places this team in an ideal location to become the forerunner to a 2nd Melbourne NRL team.

And yes this would clear the way for the Central Coast Bears to enter their own NSW Cup team when they re-enter the NRL in 2013!

 

[AILD]

Huge development! And Patrick SMith reckons the code has no future outside the heartland? :roll:

Wonder if a few of the lads going around in the VRL will get a chance to play? Also, I wonder if this move away from Gosford is helping the Central Coast Bears re-instatement bid any?

Patrick who?

 

[RedVee]

This is great news for the game. This news cannot be overstated. Another senior semi-pro Rugby League side in Melbourne is fantastic for the game.

The only thing I would suggest is that this team not be called the Melbourne Storm.

For team identity and promotional reasons I would name the team after another locality, for e.g. 'Geelong Cobras' or 'Port Melbourne Pirates'. Give the team a location that would allow it over time to develop grass roots and an identity with the local community it is named after that places this team in an ideal location to become the forerunner to a 2nd Melbourne NRL team.

And yes this would clear the way for the Central Coast Bears to enter their own NSW Cup team when they re-enter the NRL in 2013!

Not sure the Storm would be planning on giving another Vic based NRL team such a leg-up.....

Agree re CC Bears.

re the development - what a great announcement. Well done Melb Storm and VRL.

 

[kia ora storm]

Good move this one...it keeps those players coming out of the U20 comp in a competitive grade that will make it easier for them to step up to NRL level when the chance comes.

 

[MsStorm]

Of course this means we now have 4 teams to follow here in Melbourne.

 

[LESStar58]

Not sure the Storm would be planning on giving another Vic based NRL team such a leg-up.....

Agree re CC Bears.

re the development - what a great announcement. Well done Melb Storm and VRL.

Good opportunity for us local refs and touchies as well!

 

[roopy]

It's a big move.
I'd go for branding it as the most popular team in the VRL (whoever they are).
That would give them some tradition and a local connection from day one - and hopefully a couple of the players will be genuine juniors of the club.

 

[joshreading]

I think it should be called something state based eg. Victoria Thunder. I would then play some of the games around the state. eg. Geelong, Shepparton, Bendigo etc.

 

[Bluebags1908]

I think it should be called something state based eg. Victoria Thunder. I would then play some of the games around the state. eg. Geelong, Shepparton, Bendigo etc.

The state-based name is a great idea. You need to differentiate it from the Melbourne Storm because to Victorians they will just think it's part of the same team.

 

[LESStar58]

How about Southern somethingorother...

 

[roopy]

I suppose you could actually base the team in Geelong without too much trouble.

 

[RL1908]

Sydney Morning Herald:
Storm bring Maroons talent conveyor belt to halt

 

[broncos_warriors_storm]

where so awesome that people are going to want to play for this squad