The stars of Melbourne Storm have headed out to the grassroots of rugby league and met up with more than 1800 junior and senior footballers, including Dandenong-based South Eastern Titans, last week.
In conjunction with NRL Victoria, the club’s NRL squad members visited 17 Melbourne region clubs on 16 and 17 July as part of the Storm in Your Club campaign to promote the growth of rugby league and the benefits of playing the game.
A special jersey exchange was a highlight of each visit.
Each host club was presented with a signed 2019 Melbourne Storm home jersey and, in return, the Storm players in attendance received the local club’s jersey to wear at an upcoming Storm training session.
Storm captain Cameron Smith said the squad enjoyed the opportunity to get back to local footy.
“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,” Smith 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 and we’ll be recognising this with Storm in Your Club.”
NRL Victoria general manager Brent Silva said it was a wonderful initiative from the Storm.
“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,” he 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 to the ongoing in the interest to play this great game.
“The fact that Melbourne Storm players take time out of their schedule in the middle of the season 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.”
Other south-east clubs, including the Doveton Steelers and Pakenham Eels, received a visit from the Storm.
