Truganina Rabbitohs’ Suliasi Prescott is among 12 players named in the newly created Melbourne Storm Academy.
The new academy has identified 12 players who are seen as NRL prospects and will learn all that it takes, on and off the field, to become a first grade player with Melbourne Storm.
They are under the guidance of two former Storm representative player, academy coach Matt Duffie and recruitment and pathways manager Tim Glasby.
The academy is a key part of Storm’s plans to develop more “homegrown” players.
Prescott began his junior career with the Werribee Bears before joining the Sunshine Cowboys and then the Truganina Rabbitohs in 2022.
This year he played under-18s in the morning and with the men’s team in the afternoon.
He was also a sports captain at The Grange P-12 Secondary College this year and has been named in school Australian teams.
Storm CEO Justin Rodski said Storm had a strong reputation for growing and developing its own talent, but those numbers had been reduced since the end of the under-20 competition in 2017.
“The Storm Academy is something we are very passionate about and represents the future of Melbourne Storm,” Rodski said.
“Our academy members will receive the intensive coaching and education they need to become elite players well versed in what we do as a club on and off the field.”
Rodski said one of the academy’s priorities was to bring many more Victorian juniors through to NRL level than has occurred over previous years.
The club has only fielded four Victorian raised players in the first grade side since the club’s inception
“We want rugby league in Victoria to be strong and that will help Storm to stay strong.”
Tara Murray
