Melbourne Storm Coach Craig Bellamy has named his first squad of the 2014 season, including young Victorian Young Tonumaipea in the squad for the Round 1 opener.
Tonumaipea has been named on the wing and is in line to make his first-grade debut alongside Mahe Fonua on an all Victorian left edge. The 21-year old has impressed in Storm's 2014 trials, backing up a solid first season of senior football in 2013 with Cronulla after graduating from the club's U20 system. In 2012, Tonumaipea won Storm's Under 20’s Player of the Year Award as well as the Greg Brentnall Young Achievers Award thanks to a breakout year where he scored 11 tries.
A Northern Thunder (Melbourne) junior, the outside back's powerful running game proved a dangerous weapon for Storm's NSW Cup feeder club Cronulla on their run to the NSW Cup Premiership.
Bellamy has selected a strong side for the season opener with an experienced front-row including Captain Cameron Smith, internationals Jesse Bromwich, Kevin Proctor and Ryan Hoffman alongside the experienced duo of Bryan Norrie and Ryan Hinchcliffe. Fullback Billy Slater has also been named after missing Melbourne's trial matches throughout pre-season.
Ben Hampton and Ben Roberts will occupy Storm's halves positions with Cooper Cronk sidelined for one more week due to a shoulder injury.
NRL
Melbourne Storm v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Saturday 8 March, 7pm - Brookvale Oval
1. Billy Slater
2. Sisa Waqa
3. Will Chambers
4. Mahe Fonua
5. Young Tonumaipea
6. Ben Hampton
7. Ben Roberts
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith ©
10. Bryan Norrie
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Ryan Hinchcliffe
14. Kenny Bromwich
15. Tohu Harris
16. Jordan McLean
17. George Rose
18. Mitch Garbutt
19. Slade Griffin
20. Joel Romelo
NSW Cup
Cronulla Sharks v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Saturday, March 8, 5pm - Belmore Sports Ground
Kurt Mann
Junior Moors
Dayne Weston
Queensland Cup
Wynumm Manly Seagulls v Easts Tigers
Sunday 9 March, 2pm - BMD Kougari Oval
Richie Kennar
Hymel Hunt
Cody Walker
Tim Glasby
Felise Kaufusi
Matt Lodge
NYC Cup
Melbourne Storm v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Saturday 8 March, 4:45pm - Brookvale Oval
1. Tremaine Jensen
2. Tony Tumusa
3. Josh Minhinnick
4. Niua Finau-Puaka
5. Suliasi Vunivalu
6. Brayden Torpy
7. Jake Turpin
8. Christian Welch ©
9. Aaron Teroi
10. Rhys Kennedy
11. Shae Ah Fook
12. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
13. Pride Petterson-Robati
14. Billy Kitt
15. John Filipo
16. Francis Tualau
17. Vincent Rennie
18. Billy Brittain
19. Una Mohi
Injuries
Matt Duffie - Knee - Season
Justin O’Neill - Knee - Round 6
Travis Robinson - Knee - Round 5
Cooper Cronk - Shoulder - Round 2
