Melbourne Storm enhances commitment to Sunshine Coast
Storm enhances commitment to Sunshine Coast
Melbourne Storm has strengthened its commitment to the Sunshine Coast during its current two-week stint in the region it now calls its “home away from home”.
Storm today announced new initiatives that will build on the club’s existing partnerships on the Sunshine Coast in a commitment that will further embed its connection to the region.
The new initiatives include:
- An extension of the partnership with Sunshine Coast Falcons as Storm’s feeder club to the end of the 2024 season;
- Establishment of the Tornados Academy to provide a new pathway for talented rugby league players into the Storm system;
- Commitment to return to the Sunshine Coast for the next three years for training, preparation or promotional opportunities.
Storm CEO Justin Rodski said the initiatives would not only provide greater opportunities for local rugby league players to play NRL, but was a commitment by the club to its members, fans and commercial partners in the Coast region for the long term.
“The Sunshine Coast has become a second home for us in the last few years,” Rodski said today.
“We always feel very welcome here and we have some valuable partnerships in place with the community and commercial sector who have been extremely supportive of our club.
“Our netball team, Sunshine Coast Lightning, has been a success story since first entering the Super Netball League in 2017.
“The partnership and integration between our two clubs is unique in Australian sport.”
Storm General Manager Football Frank Ponissi said the development of players in the region had been important to the club’s recent successes.
“The Falcons have been the perfect fit for our players who aren’t playing first grade, giving them the chance to develop their craft against some quality opposition in the Intrust Super Cup with quality coaching,” Ponissi said.
“To have our partnership with the Falcons confirmed until the end of 2024 means we can plan with certainty, knowing our young, talented players have a pathway to playing first grade in addition to playing with our other feeder club, Brisbane Tigers.
