Storm to build links with the Central Coast

copa

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http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,19867995-14823,00.html

Karl deKroo
July 22, 2006 12:00am
Article from: </IMG>

MELBOURNE Storm is on the verge of securing a foothold in one of rugby league's most fertile development nurseries.

Looking to capitalise on its front-running feats in the NRL, Storm is eyeing the New South Wales Central Coast as an area to base its interstate development program. Storm has a feeder team arrangement with Norths Devils in Brisbane's Queensland Cup and had a similar agreement with North Sydney in the Sydney Premier League.

Melbourne chief executive Brian Waldron confirmed before last night's game against Cronulla at Olympic Park that Storm was investigating the benefits of a strategic partnership with the Central Coast Rip.

The Rip fields teams in the NSW Rugby League under-16s, under-18s and under-20s competitions, as well as the third-tier Jim Beam Cup.
Under the planned agreement with Storm, it may also be granted promotion to the Premier League competition.

"Having ensured our long-term future in Melbourne with a deal for a new stadium, with the key signatures of our coach Craig Bellamy and a host of representative class players, we are now looking to the next generation," Waldron said last night.

"Our development program in Queensland has worked very well previously. But with the Gold Coast entering the competition next year, that market is becoming more crowded.

"We would look to base our junior players on the Central Coast and to provide local juniors there, around 4000, with a pathway into rugby league that doesn't currently exist."

Under the agreement, which foundation Storm chief executive John Ribot is helping to broker with Central Coast identity and Central Coast Stadium owner John Singleton, Storm would also play a yet to be determined number of away games at Gosford.

Several Sydney teams, believed to include Wests Tigers and Cronulla, are close to agreeing to deals to transfer their home games against Storm to Gosford next season.

"This is a great opportunity in terms of development, but also to grow the Storm brand outside of just the Victorian market," Waldron said.

Asked if this was the first step towards the eventual relocation of the Storm franchise from Melbourne, Waldron said: "That is never ever going to happen. We are absolutely committed to Melbourne in every sense.

"We would not even entertain giving up one home game in Melbourne for this deal to go ahead.

"What we are hoping is by having a base there we will win the support of the rugby league-starved Central Coast locals and it could become like our home away from home."
 

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copa

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thebigboy said:
is this the start of a possible relocation??

Hope Not
THey've made it very clear that it isn't the start of a relocation.. they've said it will be for Storm AWAY games only. Besides, they've just got a new stadium plus $23 million being invested into Victorian RL over the next few years.

The NRL has ignored the Central Coast for a long time and it looks like the Storms great ceo isn't gonna sit back and let such a massive resource of juniors and heaps of possible new fans go to waste. Well done to him.

Sydney teams generally get some of their lowest crowds for Storm games so I bet a few of them wouldn't mind making more money from home games being staged on the Central Coast.
 

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copa said:
THey've made it very clear that it isn't the start of a relocation.. they've said it will be for Storm AWAY games only. Besides, they've just got a new stadium plus $23 million being invested into Victorian RL over the next few years.

The NRL has ignored the Central Coast for a long time and it looks like the Storms great ceo isn't gonna sit back and let such a massive resource of juniors and heaps of possible new fans go to waste. Well done to him.

Sydney teams generally get some of their lowest crowds for Storm games so I bet a few of them wouldn't mind making more money from home games being staged on the Central Coast.
It's a fantastic idea. The number of local juniors that the Gold Coast has picked up since its inception (Chris Sandow for one), if Melbourne can develop some juniors/pick up some rising stars from the region then we'll be well on track!

Well done Waldron!
 

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#5
philhawk said:
It's a fantastic idea. The number of local juniors that the Gold Coast has picked up since its inception (Chris Sandow for one), if Melbourne can develop some juniors/pick up some rising stars from the region then we'll be well on track!

Well done Waldron!
On a related topic (junior development). From the recent nation U18 comp, a total of seven juniors already signed with the Storm blitzed at the carnival and were named as AA (miles ahead of any rival club).
 

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Lidge said:
On a related topic (junior development). From the recent nation U18 comp, a total of seven juniors already signed with the Storm blitzed at the carnival and were named as AA (miles ahead of any rival club).
Did you notice that a couple of them were signed by Newcastle? :mad:
 

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#8
philhawk said:
Did you notice that a couple of them were signed by Newcastle? :mad:
But not Israel Folau. He's on a Storm Contract.

Have heard him rated by a few so called experts to be as good, if not better than Greg Inglis at the same age and the best junior (secondary school) player in the country.

That's a big (very big) call. Hope the 'experts' are right on this one.
 

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Lidge said:
But not Israel Folau. He's on a Storm Contract.

Have heard him rated by a few so called experts to be as good, if not better than Greg Inglis at the same age and the best junior (secondary school) player in the country.

That's a big (very big) call. Hope the 'experts' are right on this one.
It's strange that you say that mate, I was going on about this kid earlier this year and no-one believed me! There was an article in the Courier about him, i'll try and find it.
 

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philhawk said:
It's strange that you say that mate, I was going on about this kid earlier this year and no-one believed me! There was an article in the Courier about him, i'll try and find it.
A quick google search returned 64 hits. Plenty of stuff about him in circulation.

Plus Karl de Kroo ran a story last week (in the article about Moon knocking back our offer) that Bellamy plans on fast tracking Israel Folau (17 yrs) & Smith Samau (19 yr old currently playing with Norths) into the team in 2007.

Kind of happy we're going down this path, instead throwing money at a youngster to move down (with a chance of doing a runner when their contract expires).
 

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#11
Lidge said:
A quick google search returned 64 hits. Plenty of stuff about him in circulation.

Plus Karl de Kroo ran a story last week (in the article about Moon knocking back our offer) that Bellamy plans on fast tracking Israel Folau (17 yrs) & Smith Samau (19 yr old currently playing with Norths) into the team in 2007.

Kind of happy we're going down this path, instead throwing money at a youngster to move down (with a chance of doing a runner when their contract expires).
To be honest, I don't rate Samau (based on that one match I saw him play against Manly - the fact that we lost might add to it :p). His footwork and speed were impressive, but my query is mainly height. From the pictures of Folau that i've seen, his 'body type' seems perfect for League football.

Next year it will be one of two scenario's,

1. Billy Slater
2. Matt Geyer
3. Ryan Shortland
4. Matty King
5. Anthony Quinn
6. Greg Inglis
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Brett White
9. Cameron Smith
10. Antonio Kaufusi
11. Ryan Hoffman
12. Michael Crocker
13. Dallas Johnson

14. James Aubusson
15. Jeremy Smith
16. Ben Cross
17. Garrett Crossman

OR

1. Billy Slater
2. Matt Geyer
3. Greg Inglis
4. Matty King
5. Anthony Quinn/Ryan Shortland
6. Michael Bond
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Brett White
9. Cameron Smith
10. Antonio Kaufusi
11. Ryan Hoffman
12. Michael Crocker
13. Dallas Johnson

14. James Aubusson
15. Jeremy Smith
16. Ben Cross
17. Ian Donnelly/Crossman
 

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