Melbourne Storm have wrapped up another successful training camp at Geelong Grammar with a record number of Storm players in attendance throughout the last two weeks.
For the first time ever, all Storm teams attended the annual pre-season camp together with 150 players from across the Club’s senior and junior pathway programs descending on Geelong for 10 days of high intensity training.
The all-club camp marked the 10th anniversary of Storm’s now regular pre-season ritual which commenced in 2016 and has since played a crucial role in the Club’s season preparation.
The first-class facilities provided the players, coaches and staff with elite resources and equipment for their extensive two-week program, with multiple training fields, a gym, swimming pool, dining rooms and dormitories.
As a sign of the Club’s growth over the 10-year period, every Storm senior and pathway team attended the camp over the two weeks, including the NRL squad, Senior and Junior Academies, South-East Queensland Scholarship squad as well as U21 Jersey Flegg, U19 SG Ball and U17 Harold Matthews teams that play in the NSWRL Junior Representative competitions.
The camp also welcomed players and coaches from Storm’s feeder clubs, North Sydney Bears, Brisbane Tigers and Sunshine Coast Falcons to observe training and participate in the various camp activities.
“We pride ourselves on our one club ethos and building alignment and connection across all our playing squads and wider pathway,” said Satellite Pathways Manager Tim Glasby.
“The Geelong Camp has always been an important part of our pre-season, but this year was a significant step towards ensuring all our teams are aligned, training together and building consistent values and themes for the year ahead.”
For Storm’s Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams, the camp provided a crucial training window before the 2025 season commences on Saturday 1 February.
“It was a great opportunity for our pathway squads to come together and work on our footy but also build connection with the wider club before the season,” said SG Ball and Pathway Coach Matt Duffie.
“Having everyone together on the one site was massive for our players. They loved rubbing shoulders with the NRL group, bumping into them around the facility and spending time together throughout the camp activities.
"It was an amazing opportunity for our guys before the season starts and I have no doubt all our pathway players will walk away from camp knowing what it means to play for the Melbourne Storm.”
Players also spent time together learning about the different cultures and backgrounds within their squads, with club history workshops, multicultural food and drink evenings, guest appearances from former Storm players, coaches and influential figures.
“Culture and connection have always been a big part of the Geelong camp,” said Player Wellbeing Coordinator Young Tonumaipea.
“We’ve run workshops and activities at every camp since 2016 and this year was another important moment to come together and celebrate the diversity within our Club, and the incredible backgrounds and stories amongst our players and staff.
“Over the two weeks we delivered connection workshops for our players, allowing them to share their stories and experiences, and build trust and understanding. We also welcomed former Storm players, athletes from different sports and inspiring figures to speak to our players, explaining their own stories of success and achievement, and the challenges they faced and overcome.”
Storm kick-off their NRL preparation with trial matches against the New Zealand Warriors in Hamilton on Saturday 15 February and North Queensland Cowboys at Casey Fields on Sunday 23 February, before hosting a blockbuster Round 1 clash with the Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park on Sunday 9 March.
