Ahead of ANZAC Day and the 100th anniversary of a significant piece of Australian and New Zealand history, melbournestorm.com.au takes a look at the impact New Zealand born players have had on the Club since it's inception.
For an Australian based club, Storm has long had a strong representation of New Zealand born players since 1998. Not only have a raft of Kiwis carved out highlights and memories for Storm fans in the purple jersey over the years, many have also taken their game to the next level and represented their country of birth on the international stage.
Leading the charge during the Club's early years, inaugural 1999 Premiership players Tawera Nikau, Stephen Kearney, Matt Rua and Richard Swain all paved the way for the Club's next generation of New Zealand stars.
Make sure you're at AAMI Park for an ANZAC Day blockbuster against the Sea Eagles. Get your tickets here.
In 2015, Melbourne Storm has seven New Zealand born players in the Club's first-grade squad, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, Matt Duffie, Slade Griffin, Tohu Harris and Kevin Proctor. Four of those, Kevin Proctor, Tohu Harris and the Bromwich brothers all selected all selected in Craig Bellamy's extended squad for Saturday night's ANZAC Day clash against the Sea Eagles.
Overall, Melbourne Storm has had 16 players represent the New Zealand Kiwis while playing with the Club.
On Saturday night, Storm will host Manly on Saturday evening at AAMI Park with kick-off from 6:15pm. The fixture will be the seventh ANZAC Day match hosted in Melbourne since 2009.
Melbourne Storm's New Zealand internationals
S.Kearney
M.Rua
R.Swain
T.Lavea
H.Perenara
A.Chan
D.Kidwell
J.Webster
A.Blair
J.Lima
J.Smith
S.Manu
M.Duffie
K.Proctor
J.Bromwich
T.Harris