Official thread and signing news

Discussion on anything to do with Melbourne Storm - games, players, rumours - anything!
Scooter
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Other Sunshine Coast Falcons doing pre-season with the Storm:
Centre/ winger Scott Galeano (who joins Falcons from Tweed Seagulls)
Backrower Josh Patston (also signed from Tweed Seagulls)
Backrower Jack Gibbons
Munster61
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Stormhunter wrote: Thu Nov 03, 2022 7:28 pm
sallymay wrote: Wed Oct 12, 2022 12:29 pm I’d say Chris Lewis is gone
I see they've updated the players page on the website and Chris' photo is still there.
His profile has now been removed. The NRL will release the 2023 squads so far on either Monday or Tuesday coming so we will see if he's still around. Still no word on him or Tonumaipea.

2023 Development Players

Sua Fa'alogo
Bronson Garlick
Cole Geyer
Tristan Powell

2023 Train & Trials (so far)

Solomona Faataape
Scott Galeano
Jack Gibbons
AJ Gudgeon
Kane Jackson
Joshua Patson
Lazarus Vaalepu
Coby Williamson
Scooter
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Are you sure Bronson Garlick is still with us?

I have read that he has left / been let go.
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sallymay
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Scooter wrote: Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:25 pm Are you sure Bronson Garlick is still with us?

I have read that he has left / been let go.
He has been in all the photos the last week or two
Munster61
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Scooter wrote: Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:25 pm Are you sure Bronson Garlick is still with us?

I have read that he has left / been let go.
Yes his agent confirmed on Instagram he re-signed for 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/CkRS9t0S_Nv/
Scooter
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Thanks Sallymay and Munster61 that is good news. Happy to see Bronson back.
Munster61
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Munster61 wrote: Sun Nov 06, 2022 5:26 pm 2023 Development Players

Sua Fa'alogo
Bronson Garlick
Cole Geyer
Tristan Powell

2023 Train & Trials (so far)

Solomona Faataape
Scott Galeano
Jack Gibbons
AJ Gudgeon
Kane Jackson
Joshua Patson
Lazarus Vaalepu
Coby Williamson
Add Max Lehmann to the T&T list. Winger/centre from Parramatta Eels who's signed with Brisbane Tigers.
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sallymay
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Bloody love Solomona faatape
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sallymay
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Munster61 wrote: Wed Nov 09, 2022 1:05 pm
Munster61 wrote: Sun Nov 06, 2022 5:26 pm 2023 Development Players

Sua Fa'alogo
Bronson Garlick
Cole Geyer
Tristan Powell

2023 Train & Trials (so far)

Solomona Faataape
Scott Galeano
Jack Gibbons
AJ Gudgeon
Kane Jackson
Joshua Patson
Lazarus Vaalepu
Coby Williamson
Add Max Lehmann to the T&T list. Winger/centre from Parramatta Eels who's signed with Brisbane Tigers.
https://thetigers.com.au/signings/murra ... pj5taVe3ng

And Charlie Murray as well
Itzbek the Purple
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There's an article in the Telegraph (behind a paywall) about how we are rebuilding and have 12 quality players stockpiled.

It's headlined "Inside the secret mission to rebuild NRL powerhouse" (BTW it must not be very secret if it's in the DT)

Does anyone have any more information?
glennb
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Here is the story:

Melbourne have lifted the lid on their plans to again become a long-term premiership threat, which includes stockpiling 12 of the best junior rugby league stars from across the country.
Melbourne has set up an elite academy – bringing in the best juniors from NSW, Queensland and Victoria – to ensure the Storm’s long-term success.

When greats Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk walked out the door the Storm had identified the likes of Harry Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster as long-term replacements. They are now already planning for life post Grant, Papenhuyzen, Munster and Jahrome Hughes by putting together the club’s first academy which aims to mirror the success of the Sydney Swans.
The Storm have drafted in 12 of the game’s best young players in the hope of fast-tracking their development. The players include ex-Penrith half Keagan Russell-Smith who kicked the winning goal to clinch the Panthers’ SG Ball title earlier this year.

Other players include Australian Schoolboys hooker Gabriel Satrick, Poasi Manu – the brother of ex-Storm hard man Sika — and Angus Hinchey, the son of former South Sydney and Parramatta forward James.

Three Victorians are also in the elite squad. They will be coached by dual international Matt Duffie and Storm premiership winner Tim Glasby.

“When Covid-19 hit we’ve had Victorian kids leaving the state for opportunities,” Duffie said. “The last month we had five or six 13-15 year olds going to Queensland to take up scholarships because they saw a better opportunity. It’s disappointing. We dropped the ball because we didn’t have a complete pathways.

“Re-branding our younger sides from the Thunderbolts to the Storm will help.”
Since the end of the national under-20s competition in 2017 the Storm felt they have not produced enough talent coming through their development system. They hope the academy will rectify that.

“You don’t recruit young kids thinking they are going to be the next Cameron Smith,” Duffie said.

“But you bring young guys in and it becomes obvious by the way they train and how they handle the environment if they are going to step up.

“Since the under-20s ended we have dropped off our development. That’s coincided with some inconsistency at the NRL level – particularly this year.”

The non-Victorian players have moved to Melbourne permanently and will take part in the Storm’s gruelling pre-season.

“After pre-season they will drop out and join our under-21s program,” Duffie said.

“They all have jobs on the side. Throughout the season we will bring them up to the NRL squad once a week to keep up that exposure and upskilling.

“It will also help the rest of our under-21s players having these guys come back to them.

“Clubs that develop their players are getting sustained success.”

Melbourne has set up an elite academy – bringing in the best juniors from NSW, Queensland and Victoria – to ensure the Storm’s long-term success.

When greats Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk walked out the door the Storm had identified the likes of Harry Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster as long-term replacements. They are now already planning for life post Grant, Papenhuyzen, Munster and Jahrome Hughes by putting together the club’s first academy which aims to mirror the success of the Sydney Swans.

The Melbourne Storm have established a new NRL Academy squad for interstate prospects, similar to that of the Sydney Swans in the AFL. Picture: Supplied.
The Melbourne Storm have established a new NRL Academy squad for interstate prospects, similar to that of the Sydney Swans in the AFL. Picture: Supplied.
The Storm have drafted in 12 of the game’s best young players in the hope of fast-tracking their development. The players include ex-Penrith half Keagan Russell-Smith who kicked the winning goal to clinch the Panthers’ SG Ball title earlier this year.

Other players include Australian Schoolboys hooker Gabriel Satrick, Poasi Manu – the brother of ex-Storm hard man Sika — and Angus Hinchey, the son of former South Sydney and Parramatta forward James.

Three Victorians are also in the elite squad. They will be coached by dual international Matt Duffie and Storm premiership winner Tim Glasby.

“When Covid-19 hit we’ve had Victorian kids leaving the state for opportunities,” Duffie said. “The last month we had five or six 13-15 year olds going to Queensland to take up scholarships because they saw a better opportunity. It’s disappointing. We dropped the ball because we didn’t have a complete pathways.

“Re-branding our younger sides from the Thunderbolts to the Storm will help.”

Former Melbourne Storm and All Blacks winger Matt Duffie is back at his former NRL club as the pathways coach. Picture: Supplied
Former Melbourne Storm and All Blacks winger Matt Duffie is back at his former NRL club as the pathways coach. Picture: Supplied
Since the end of the national under-20s competition in 2017 the Storm felt they have not produced enough talent coming through their development system. They hope the academy will rectify that.

“You don’t recruit young kids thinking they are going to be the next Cameron Smith,” Duffie said.

“But you bring young guys in and it becomes obvious by the way they train and how they handle the environment if they are going to step up.

“Since the under-20s ended we have dropped off our development. That’s coincided with some inconsistency at the NRL level – particularly this year.”

The non-Victorian players have moved to Melbourne permanently and will take part in the Storm’s gruelling pre-season.

“After pre-season they will drop out and join our under-21s program,” Duffie said.

“They all have jobs on the side. Throughout the season we will bring them up to the NRL squad once a week to keep up that exposure and upskilling.

“It will also help the rest of our under-21s players having these guys come back to them.

“Clubs that develop their players are getting sustained success.”
The academy is the brainchild of long-term Melbourne general manager of football Frank Ponissi who said the club was “excited about the program”.
“Especially with people in Matt and Tim overseeing it,” Ponissi said.

“They understand what it takes to be a Melbourne Storm player.”
THE STORM DOZEN
Sheldon Diaz (19): Front-row. From Melbourne, Vic
Matt Hill (18): Fullback. From St Brendans College, Yeppoon (Originally Kununurra, NT)
Angus Hinchey (18): Back-rower. From Brisbane
Mitchell Jennings (18): Centre. From Sunshine Coast
Poasi Manu (20): Back-rower. From Brisbane
Jared Nauma (20): Back-rower. From Melbourne, Vic
K-Ci Newton-Whare (18): Front-rower. From Gold Coast (Originally Christchuch, NZSuliasi Prescott (18): Hooker. From Melbourne, Vic
Keagan Russell-Smith (19): Halfback. From Penrith, NSW
Gabriel Satrick (18): Hooker. From Ipswich High (Originally Yarrabah, Qld)
Karauria Stokes-Mauahara (18): Fullback. From Keebra Park, Gold Coast (Originally NZ)
Coby Williamson (19): Centre. From St Brendans College, Yeppoon (Originally Emerald, Qld)
ALX22
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Couple of positional battles from the group above. Should have a more prosperous SG Ball & Jersey Flegg season in 2023.
Scooter
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According to NRL website, our current 2023 list and development players with when players contracted to. We have 29 players on list and no Bronson Garlick in development list. Is anyone missing?

Melbourne Storm

Aaron Pene 2023 2024  
Alec MacDonald 2023 2024 2025  
Cameron Munster 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Christian Welch 2023 2024 2025 MO 
Dean Ieremia 2023    
Eliesa Katoa 2023 2024   
George Jennings 2023    
Harry Grant 2023 2024 2025 PO 
Jack Howarth 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Jahrome Hughes 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Jayden Nikorima 2023    
Joe Chan 2023 2024 MO  
Jonah Pezet 2023    
Jordan Grant 2023     
Josh King 2023  
 Justin Olam 2023 2024 2025 2026
 Marion Seve 2023 2024   
Nelson Asofa-Solomona 2023    
Nick Meaney 2023    
Reimis Smith 2023 2024  
 Ryan Papenhuyzen 2023 2024 2025  
Tariq Sims 2023  
Tepai Moeroa 2023    
Tom Eisenhuth 2023 CO   
Trent Loiero 2023 2024 2025  
Tui Kamikamica 2023    
Tyran Wishart 2023    
William Warbrick 2023    
Xavier Coates 2023 2024 2025 2026 

Development List
Cole Geyer 2023  
Sualauvi Faalogo 2023 2024 CO
Tristan Powell 2023 2024

CO - Club Option
PO - Player Option
MO - Mutual Option
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sallymay
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Well that strange cause Bronson has been in nearly every set of photos Storm has posted the last few weeks 🤷‍♀️ Who knows what’s going on there


I think everyone else is there
Itzbek the Purple
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I see Chris Lewis is not on that list as well.
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