The stars of Melbourne Storm will hit the road to help promote rugby league at local clubs across the Melbourne metropolitan region next week.
In conjunction with NRL Victoria, our NRL squad members will be visiting 17 clubs on April 19-20 as part of the Storm in Your Club campaign to continue the growth of rugby league in Melbourne as well as highlight the benefits of playing the sport.
Storm co-captain Dale Finucane, who will be visiting the Altona Roosters with fellow State of Origin representative Felise Kaufusi on April 19, said the squad was looking forward to getting back to the grassroots of rugby league after unfortunately missing last year due to COVID-19.
“The boys really enjoy getting out across Melbourne’s north, south, east and west on the two nights and have formed some on-going connections with the local clubs,” Finucane said.
“The local season is just getting underway so it’s the ideal time for us to get back there and see what all the local clubs are up to.
“NRL Victoria and the volunteers who help to run each of the clubs are doing fantastic work in building rugby league’s grassroots base across Melbourne, especially after the difficulties of the past 12 months.”
Finucane’s fellow co-captain Jesse Bromwich will continue his association with the Waverley Panthers by joining his brother Kenny at their clubhouse in Clayton.
Clive Churchill Medal winner Ryan Papenhuyzen and Kiwi Test hooker Brandon Smith will head to the Eastern Raptors, while new Storm NRL squad member Dean Ieremia is sure to be a big hit when he heads back to his junior club, Sunbury Tigers, along with Isaac Lumelume.
The 19-year-old winger was promoted to Storm’s full-time NRL squad this year and again showed his promise at the weekend by scoring a hat-trick of tries for Brisbane Tigers in the Intrust Super Cup in Queensland.
NRL Victoria General Manager Brent Silva said: “The rugby league community of Victoria is very fortunate and grateful to have such a great club as Melbourne Storm supporting our clubs.
“It has certainly contributed to the ongoing in the interest to play this great game.
“Dean’s progression from a junior at one of our clubs, through the Thunderbolts junior teams and onto the Storm NRL squad is a great example of what can be achieved on the pathway which is available for young rugby league players in our state.”
“I’m sure the kids and volunteers at each club will get great kick out of having Storm in their club once again this year.”
To find your local rugby league club to play in 2021 go to playrugbyleague.com
Participating clubs include:
Monday, April 19: Altona Roosters, Doveton Steelers, Eastern Raptors, Melton Broncos, Mernda Dragons, Northern Thunder, SE Titans, Waverley Panthers, Werribee Bears
Tuesday, April 20: Casey Warriors, Frankston Raiders, Hume Eagles, North West Wolves, Pakenham Eels, Sunbury Tigers, Sunshine Cowboys, Truganina Rabbitohs
