By Lance Jenkinson
The stars of Melbourne Storm hit the suburbs last week as part of a Storm in Your Club community initiative.
Players from the NRL ladder-leading side visited 17 Victorian rugby league clubs, taking part in training, offering tips to youngsters, posing for photos and signing autographs
A jersey exchange between player and club was the highlight of each visit.
Storm prop Max King and winger Sandor Earl were on hand at the Werribee Bears session, while prop Albert Vete and centre Solomone Kata teamed up at the Truganina Rabbitohs.
Storm captain and NRL games record holder Cameron Smith said the players enjoyed giving back to grassroots clubs.
“Along with a growing membership base at Storm, which is on track for another record in 2019, the number of men and women, boys and girls playing rugby league in our home city continues to increase, which is great news for the game,” he said.
“NRL Victoria and the volunteers who help to run each of the clubs are doing fantastic work in building rugby league’s grassroots base.”
NRL Victoria general manager Brent Silva is thrilled with the Melbourne Storm’s support at a local level.
“The rugby league community of Victoria are very fortunate and grateful to have such a wonderful NRL club as Melbourne Storm supporting local grassroots football,” Silva said.
“Club-based participation in rugby league in Victoria has grown year on year for the past 13 consecutive years and is on track to achieve record numbers again in 2019.
“The support that Melbourne Storm provides NRL Victoria has certainly contributed.
“The fact that Melbourne Storm players take time out of their schedule in the middle of the season to personally visit our local Melbourne clubs demonstrates a clear desire to see the game grow at all levels in Victoria.
“This is certainly appreciated by everyone – and in particular the kids and volunteers at each club who got a great kick out of having Storm in their club.”
MORE NRL VIC NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/werribee-hunt-as-a-team/
