History in the making as Storm's SG Ball team play 1st game

[Super Cronk]

From melbournestorm.com.au


The Melbourne Storm SG Ball coaching staff has named their starting 17 for this week's history-making inaugural game against the Newcastle Knights in Newcastle. This game signals a new era for the Melbourne Storm club as their is a clear and definite pathway for players to progress through the junior ranks all the way into the NRL team without having to leave Melbourne.

An original squad of 44 players has now been cut back to the final squad of 30 who will compete for starting positions each weekend. The squad of 30 contains a total of 17 local players which is a very positive sign for the Victorian Rugby League and the VRL development programs. It is hoped that these players can continue to advance their careers at the Storm in the future.

The SG Ball squad have a nine-week Round Robin competition ahead of them with the aim of qualifying for the finals in their inaugural year. The first home game is in Round 2 against the Canberra Raiders at Princes Park on February 21. This game will be played as a curtain-raiser to the Melbourne Storm v Newcastle Knights NRL trial and kick-off will be at 3.00pm.

This week's starting line-up v Newcastle Knights in Newcastle:

1. Tinus Dorante
2. Robbie Kurth
3. Eddie Faamausili
4. Cameron Hansen
5. Toese Vou Siutu
6. John Aldridge
7. Jordan Taurea
8. Junior Afu
9. Herschel Gideon
10. Jordan McLaughlin
11. Kenny Bromwich
12. Sam Martin
13. Jordan McLean
14. Lucas Grech
15. Matthew Constantinou
16. Luke Waiti
17. Jerome Henry

Remaining players in the squad:
Aaron Laasia, Frankie Bruce, Elyon Brown, Mark Porges, Young Tonumaipea, David Maitaka, Duane Butler, Tala Titi, Adam Millgate, Jordan Schmidt, Josh Jerome, Slade Griffin, Justin O'Neill, Theodore Stuart




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Great news!! cant wait to see how these young guys go.

[sallymay]

woooohoooo so exciting my fav 20's players in the SG team Josh jerome
cant wait

[bootsie16]

Interesting to see Justin O'Neill included in the extended list of names.  O'Neill has had some big wraps on and played for the AIS squad that toured late in the year.  Expected to see his name in the NYC squad but was not included in the 32 players detailed on the club website.  Interesting to see what the plan is for him and where he will actually play this year.  Would have thought NYC would have been best fit.

[Michael :P]

Historic event last night in that the u/18's won there first ever game.

This magnitude of this shouldnt be underestimated. Congrats boys and it shows their is alot of natural ability in Victoria.

[nacho]

how many of the players are victorian born?

[Stormwarning[c]]

Melbourne Storm’s SG Ball team created history in more ways than one tonight as the under-18 team defeated the highly fancied Newcastle Knights 18-14 in the team’s first ever competitive game.

Defeating such a highly credentialed team is one thing (Newcastle won both the SG Ball and Harold Matthews competitions in 2008), but what makes the win even better is that twelve of the squad have come through the Melbourne Storm Development Program from a young age, eight of which are Victorians.

The remaining five members of the squad were made up of members of the under-20’s team still young enough to play in the SG Ball team.

Playing in atrocious conditions in Charlestown, Newcastle, it was the forwards who dominated the game, with the captain Kenny Bromwich (a Victorian) leading the way with a superb best-on-ground performance.

The rain made it tough for any fluent football to be played, but the Storm made the most of the situation in the early exchanges, and by half-time had skipped away to a 14-6 lead.

In the second half the Knights came back at the Storm, and it was only a gutsy performance by everyone in the team that ensured a victory in their first ever outing in Storm colours.

Big front-rowers Junior Afu and Jordan McLaughlin were outstanding, while Lucas Grech, another local product, excelled at hooker.

Special mention must be made of a couple of 15-year-olds in the Storm team.

Melbourne boy Cameron Hansen scored a try in the first-half to get the Storm off to a flyer, while hooker Herschel Gideon came off the bench in the second-half to score a crucial, match-winning try.

The Storm plays their second SG Ball game on Saturday, February 21 at Princes Park in Melbourne from 3.00pm. The game will be a curtain-raiser to the Storm’s NRL trial game against the Newcastle Knights from 6.00pm.

[Michael :P]

how many of the players are victorian born?

17 I think.

Dont know if theyre all Vic born but theyre all Vic raised and learned their league here which shows their is talent here and aslo that the coaching theyve recived coming through the ranks is first class.

[Super Cronk]

Melbourne Storm’s SG Ball team created history in more ways than one tonight as the under-18 team defeated the highly fancied Newcastle Knights 18-14 in the team’s first ever competitive game.

Defeating such a highly credentialed team is one thing (Newcastle won both the SG Ball and Harold Matthews competitions in 2008), but what makes the win even better is that twelve of the squad have come through the Melbourne Storm Development Program from a young age, eight of which are Victorians.

The remaining five members of the squad were made up of members of the under-20’s team still young enough to play in the SG Ball team.

Playing in atrocious conditions in Charlestown, Newcastle, it was the forwards who dominated the game, with the captain Kenny Bromwich (a Victorian) leading the way with a superb best-on-ground performance.

The rain made it tough for any fluent football to be played, but the Storm made the most of the situation in the early exchanges, and by half-time had skipped away to a 14-6 lead.

In the second half the Knights came back at the Storm, and it was only a gutsy performance by everyone in the team that ensured a victory in their first ever outing in Storm colours.

Big front-rowers Junior Afu and Jordan McLaughlin were outstanding, while Lucas Grech, another local product, excelled at hooker.

Special mention must be made of a couple of 15-year-olds in the Storm team.

Melbourne boy Cameron Hansen scored a try in the first-half to get the Storm off to a flyer, while hooker Herschel Gideon came off the bench in the second-half to score a crucial, match-winning try.

The Storm plays their second SG Ball game on Saturday, February 21 at Princes Park in Melbourne from 3.00pm. The game will be a curtain-raiser to the Storm’s NRL trial game against the Newcastle Knights from 6.00pm.

wow. that is f'ing brilliant!!! Newcastle have excellent juniors. Alot of people whinge and say that we should have had juniors like this coming through years ago, which is bs, i think its right on track and hopefully in the next few years these guys will be making first grade for us.

[nacho]

15 year olds? wow, thats a risk putting them in that young

[Michael :P]

15 year olds? wow, thats a risk putting them in that young

Not really. You'll find that there will be quite a few 15 turning 16 year olds playing SG Ball. No different to players like GI and Issy playing grade at 17 and 18 or 17 year olds playing NYC.

[Bourbon Rat]

15 year olds? wow, thats a risk putting them in that young

Worried you might be getting to old 

[CooperCronk]

What great news.  Can't wait to see them this Sat. at Vissy Park.

[Super Cronk]

15 year olds? wow, thats a risk putting them in that young

thing is..some of the 15 yr olds are bigger than the 20 yr olds.

[skyangel]

where do i find the line up for each weeks sg games? I have a particular interest in this team and the 20's this year, any help would be appreciated.
cheers 

[Super Cronk]

http://www.nswrl.com.au/jnrs/sgball.php

thats the sg ball site...but no teams listed. maybe they dont list them during the trials?