No More NSW Cup...thank God
The Melbourne Storm will join up with Sunshine Coast Falcons in search of future NRL stars
MELBOURNE Storm will place its greatest ever footprint in Queensland by linking with the Sunshine Coast in the search for a new wave of NRL superstars.
On Tuesday, the Storm will announce an alliance with the Sunshine Coast Falcons, giving Melbourne two development footholds in Queensland to rival the Broncos, Titans and Cowboys.
Storm football manager Frank Ponissi will fly north on Tuesday morning to formalise links with the region that helped develop Maroons ace Daly Cherry-Evans.
The 2012 premiers already have feeder-club ties to Intrust Super Cup powerhouse Easts Tigers. And the latest strategic move will give Melbourne access to 3000 registered Queensland juniors in one of the NRL’s most untouched rugby league nurseries.
A decade ago, Melbourne’s partnership with Norths Devils spawned a generation of Origin stars in Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Dallas Johnson.
Now the Storm’s dual development arms will ensure their presence in Queensland is stronger than ever as Melbourne chiefs look to mine fresh talent.
The Bulldogs were initially tipped to broker a feeder-club arrangement with the Sunshine Coast but The Courier-Mail understands the Storm have stolen their thunder.
The development is another coup for the embattled Falcons, who produced a stunning 26-24 upset of Redcliffe last Saturday to end a 36-game losing streak.
NSW Origin duo Tony Williams and Trent Hodkinson helped Sunshine Coast to the Queensland Cup title in 2009, while Manly plucked Cherry-Evans from the region 12 months later.
Melbourne will sever NSW Cup ties with NRL rivals Cronulla and Easts Tigers supremo Des Morris, also a Maroons selector, praised Melbourne’s march into the Sunshine Coast.
“Instead of sending kids to Cronulla, they will be sending players to the Sunny Coast which is great for our state and the Queensland Cup,” Morris said.
“It’s a good foothold for the Storm. It has been difficult for them having a partnership with a rival NRL side (Cronulla) but this will be good for the guys at the Sunny Coast and the local competition as well.
“The Big Three (Smith, Slater and Cronk) were spotted by Melbourne in Queensland so they are a prime example of what can be achieved.
“We’ve had a successful relationship with the Storm and that will continue so we have no issues with Melbourne joining forces with the Sunny Coast.”
The Storm dipped their toe in the water in March by supplying a handful of under-20s players to bolster the struggling Falcons.
Melbourne do not plan to target Broncos, Cowboys or Titans juniors, but their increased presence in Queensland is sure to create added competition for emerging stars.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pre ... 6988877951
Kinda disappointed to leave the east tigers ( I think that's what it mean) but if all our boys are in one place then I'm happy
MELBOURNE Storm will place its greatest ever footprint in Queensland by linking with the Sunshine Coast in the search for a new wave of NRL superstars.
On Tuesday, the Storm will announce an alliance with the Sunshine Coast Falcons, giving Melbourne two development footholds in Queensland to rival the Broncos, Titans and Cowboys.
Storm football manager Frank Ponissi will fly north on Tuesday morning to formalise links with the region that helped develop Maroons ace Daly Cherry-Evans.
The 2012 premiers already have feeder-club ties to Intrust Super Cup powerhouse Easts Tigers. And the latest strategic move will give Melbourne access to 3000 registered Queensland juniors in one of the NRL’s most untouched rugby league nurseries.
A decade ago, Melbourne’s partnership with Norths Devils spawned a generation of Origin stars in Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Dallas Johnson.
Now the Storm’s dual development arms will ensure their presence in Queensland is stronger than ever as Melbourne chiefs look to mine fresh talent.
The Bulldogs were initially tipped to broker a feeder-club arrangement with the Sunshine Coast but The Courier-Mail understands the Storm have stolen their thunder.
The development is another coup for the embattled Falcons, who produced a stunning 26-24 upset of Redcliffe last Saturday to end a 36-game losing streak.
NSW Origin duo Tony Williams and Trent Hodkinson helped Sunshine Coast to the Queensland Cup title in 2009, while Manly plucked Cherry-Evans from the region 12 months later.
Melbourne will sever NSW Cup ties with NRL rivals Cronulla and Easts Tigers supremo Des Morris, also a Maroons selector, praised Melbourne’s march into the Sunshine Coast.
“Instead of sending kids to Cronulla, they will be sending players to the Sunny Coast which is great for our state and the Queensland Cup,” Morris said.
“It’s a good foothold for the Storm. It has been difficult for them having a partnership with a rival NRL side (Cronulla) but this will be good for the guys at the Sunny Coast and the local competition as well.
“The Big Three (Smith, Slater and Cronk) were spotted by Melbourne in Queensland so they are a prime example of what can be achieved.
“We’ve had a successful relationship with the Storm and that will continue so we have no issues with Melbourne joining forces with the Sunny Coast.”
The Storm dipped their toe in the water in March by supplying a handful of under-20s players to bolster the struggling Falcons.
Melbourne do not plan to target Broncos, Cowboys or Titans juniors, but their increased presence in Queensland is sure to create added competition for emerging stars.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pre ... 6988877951
Kinda disappointed to leave the east tigers ( I think that's what it mean) but if all our boys are in one place then I'm happy
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Storm Spirit
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No Sally....the Storm are quitting Cronulla and having 2 teams in QLD from my reading.
East Tigers link will remain and the Sunshine Falcons is the 2nd feeder and development team.
This is a 2nd development foothold for Storm in QLD as the article suggests.
Means we aren't helping out the development of players in a rival NRL team which can only be a good thing.
East Tigers link will remain and the Sunshine Falcons is the 2nd feeder and development team.
This is a 2nd development foothold for Storm in QLD as the article suggests.
Means we aren't helping out the development of players in a rival NRL team which can only be a good thing.
Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time
Jeez sal,
You got that article up quick. I only sent you the link not too long ago. Lol!
Am happy to be rid of Cronulla and finally ensuring our own self interests are put first.
I think the Queensland system has been and will continue to be the place where we can not only attain emerging talent but successfully develop our players.
Obviously along with the local talent coming through the Victorian system which has continued to grow.
You got that article up quick. I only sent you the link not too long ago. Lol!
Am happy to be rid of Cronulla and finally ensuring our own self interests are put first.
I think the Queensland system has been and will continue to be the place where we can not only attain emerging talent but successfully develop our players.
Obviously along with the local talent coming through the Victorian system which has continued to grow.
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Insomniac
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I'm excited about this as well - the Falcons train & play a street away from where I work, so it looks like I'll be heading over that way a fair bit next season. I hated having our local junior club as one of Manly's feeder teams a few years back, but this is an unexpected bonus! Hopefully it means we'll get a trial game up here again next year as well.
Fizer that is the one concern I have with this deal. I thought our alignment with the Sharks was our way of having a presence in NSW Cup so we could have our SG and HM teams.Fizer wrote:I think it is good news. Hopefully we get to Keep our SG ball and HM teams after what the NSWRL did to the Raiders.
Apparently we can use their FOG team and below as well so can send as many players as we want...rumour is players might be able to live up there and come down to melbourne to play for outer 20s if good enough
I spoke to one 20s player who hasn't been playing 20s for a few months cause there are too many players in his position he has been playing for sunbury...he is moving to brisbane at the end of the year to play for the falcons and will be still with our 20s system...it's good talking to under 20s sometimes even though they think I'm crazy
I spoke to one 20s player who hasn't been playing 20s for a few months cause there are too many players in his position he has been playing for sunbury...he is moving to brisbane at the end of the year to play for the falcons and will be still with our 20s system...it's good talking to under 20s sometimes even though they think I'm crazy
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Storm Spirit
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Mattpoet wrote:nothing wrong with being a little crazy Sallymay, I've met normal people and they bore me to tears.
Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time