NRL Team Melbourne Storm named for round 1 , 2009
Coach Bellamy discusses things:
NRL Melbourne Storm head coach Craig Bellamy today announced his team ahead of the Round One clash against the Dragons at Olympic Park on Friday night at 7.35pm.
NRL and Melbourne Storm star Greg Inglis has today committed his future to the club that discovered him by signing a four-year contract that will see him remain in Melbourne until the end of the 2012 season.
While Inglis was already contracted to the Storm until the end of the 2010 season, this four-year deal will take over from his current contract.
Inglis, who won the representative and five-eighth player-of-the-year awards at last night’s Dally M ceremony, is delighted to have signed a new contract with the Storm.
“My first preference was always to stay in rugby league, and especially with the Melbourne Storm,” said Inglis.
“I’m just glad the deal has been done now so the speculation about my future can end and I can concentrate on helping the Storm win another premiership.”
Inglis joins a host of players, including Cooper Cronk, Dallas Johnson, Adam Blair, Sika Manu, Anthony Quinn and Jeff Lima, who have re-signed with the Storm this season for the foreseeable future.
“Having re-signed so many quality players to long term deals certainly helped with my decision as I can see us having success at the Storm for a few years to come yet,” said Inglis.
“And having Craig (Bellamy) commit to us for the next five years also played a huge part. He’s been instrumental in my development from knowing very little about the game to where I am today. To have the opportunity to play under him for the next four years is very exciting.”
While Inglis is happy to be working under head coach Craig Bellamy for the next four years, Bellamy is equally as happy with Inglis’ decision to stay in Melbourne.
“This is great news, not only for Melbourne Storm but also the game of rugby league,” said Bellamy.
“He’s the kind of player that people pay their money to come through the gates and watch, and for him to commit to the Storm for the next four years is a huge boost for us and the game.
“I’m delighted he’ll be in my team for the next four years, because it would be a nightmare to have to coach against him.”
Storm CEO Brian Waldron sees the signing of Inglis to Melbourne as a real boost to the promotion of the game in Victoria.
“With a new stadium on the way it’s vital we keep the best players we have here in Melbourne for as long as we can,” said Waldron.
“We’ve re-signed our core group of players to long-term contracts this year and signing Greg up for the next four years is very exciting for us.
“While he’s obviously a high profile rugby league player in the northern states, he’s also a high profile athlete here in Melbourne and is vital to us promoting the game in this market.
“This is a real statement on Greg’s behalf that he’s committed to rugby league, and more importantly for us, the Melbourne Storm.” |
| |
|
______________________________
Chris Couch Media Manager
Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club | ||
[26 AUGUST, 2008]
NRL Training and travel schedule: 27.08.08 – 31.08.08See below for Melbourne Storm's planned training schedule for the week beginning Wednesday, August 27th. NRL Results
Please note these details are subject to change. Any changes to the training schedule will be made to the "Storm Schedule" on the Melbourne Storm website, www.melbournestorm.com.au, as soon as possible.
The squad are spending the week on the Central Coast in preparation for Saturday night's game against Newcastle. As such all training sessions are in Gosford.
Wednesday, August 27th:
Thursday, August 28th:
Friday, August 29th:
Saturday, August 30th:
Sunday, August 31st: |
| |
|
______________________________ | ||
Melbourne Storm to prepare at their home away from home on Central Coast Reigning NRL premiers the Melbourne Storm will be heading to the Central Coast for a week of training and promotions in preparation for their Round 25 clash against the Newcastle Knights at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Hosted by the Central Coast Rugby League, the Storm will be arriving in Terrigal on Tuesday August 26th following their game against the Penrith Panthers, before heading to Newcastle on Friday, August 29th for their game the following day.
Storm Football Operations Manager Frank Ponissi believes the opportunity to spend some time on the Central Coast leading up to the Knights game was too good an opportunity to miss.
“Coming to the Central Coast between the Panthers and Knights games is a real win-win situation for us,” said Ponissi.
“Firstly, it means we don’t have to try and fit in flights back to Melbourne and then up to Newcastle in the five days between games, while also trying to prepare for such an important game.
“Secondly, we get to spend an extended period of time in a place we regard as our second home. With our ties to the Central Coast with the NSW VB Cup team and the junior academies, we really enjoy coming up here and helping to promote rugby league as best we can.”
With Melbourne now a game clear on top of the ladder, the time spent on the Central Coast will be crucial in the Storm’s quest to become the first team in NRL history to win the minor premiership three years in a row.
“Winning the J.J Giltinan Shield as minor premiers is really important to us,” said Ponissi.
“To be on top of the ladder after such a gruelling season is a huge achievement, and if we could do that three years in a row would show just how special this Melbourne Storm outfit is.
“Our week on the Central Coast could be the most important week in our season so far in terms of trying to create that rare piece of history.”
Not only will the public be able to attend a training session at Blue Tongue Stadium on the Wednesday, but there will be a signing session afterwards with all players in attendance including superstars of the game such as Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Cam Smith.
The Storm coaching staff will also be doing their bit, with head coach Craig Bellamy and his assistant Michael Maguire addressing the Central Coast under-15 and under-17 Academy squads after the Wednesday training session at Bluetongue Stadium, and current New Zealand head coach Stephen Kearney will be attending the Central Coast Presentation Night at the Central Coast Leagues Club on the Thursday night.
For more information contact: Frank Ponissi – Melbourne Storm Football Operations Manager – 0400 040 574 Scott Wyatt – Central Coast Rugby League General Manager – 0437 977 233 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
______________________________
Chris Couch Media Manager
Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club Mobile: 0407 154 836 | Ph: (03) 8412 4907 | Fax: (03) 8412 4962 Princes Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton North VIC 3054 PO Box 141 Parkville VIC 3052 E-mail: ccouch@melbournestorm.com.au Website: www.melbournestorm.com.au | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||
|
______________________________
Chris Couch Media Manager
Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club Princes Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton North VIC 3054 PO Box 141 Parkville VIC 3052 E-mail: ccouch@melbournestorm.com.au Website: www.melbournestorm.com.au | ||
Roosters stalwart Craig Fitzgibbon notches up a big milestone for the Chooks this weekend. It only seems like yesterday he was playing at the St George Dragons - but Fitzy is now a true Chook and a respected member of the Bondi squad.
Craig Fitzgibbon has recently notched up 200 games for the Sydney Roosters when he played against the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday 2 August.
As a special momento of this game, his accomplishment was embroidered on his game day jersey reading:
Craig Fitzgibbon
200 First Grade Games
Sydney Roosters
Roosters v Cowboys
2.08.08
This piece of history can now be yours by bidding online.
This jersey is signed and comes with a letter of authenticity.
NRL Auction closes Wednesday 20 August at 5pm.
Bid now for your piece of history by clicking here
www.sydneyroosters.com.au
The Melbourne Storm are gearing up to meet the Sea Eagles again soon as NRL in 2008 looks set to repeat itself.
Storm training and travel schedule: 04.08.08 – 10.08.08
See below for Melbourne Storm's planned training schedule for the week beginning Monday, August 4th.
Please note these details are subject to change. Any changes to the training schedule will be made to the "Storm Schedule" on the Melbourne Storm website, www.melbournestorm.com.au, as soon as possible.
All sessions will take place at MC Labour Park unless otherwise stated.
Monday, August 4th:
9.30am: Skills and Conditioning Session
1:30pm - 4:30pm: Weights
Tuesday, August 5th:
9.00am - 11.15am: Weights
1.00pm: Speed and Ballwork Session
Wednesday, August 6th:
DAY OFF
Thursday, August 7th:
9.45am: Ballwork Session
1.30pm: Flight from Melbourne to Sydney
Friday, August 8th:
7.30pm: STORM v SEA EAGLES (Brookvale Oval)
Saturday, August 9th:
8.30am: Recovery Session (Venue TBC)
12.00pm: Flight from Sydney to Melbourne
Sunday, August 10th:
9.45am - 12.00pm: Weights
______________________________
Chris Couch
Media Manager
Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club
Princes Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton North VIC 3054
PO Box 141 Parkville VIC 3052
E-mail: ccouch@melbournestorm.com.au
Website: www.melbournestorm.com.au
On a great day for the Storm when Australian coach Ricky Stuart named no fewer than10 Melbourne players in his preliminary 46-man World Cup squad, one of those players, Greg Inglis, led his teammates to an emphatic 44-4 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at Olympic Park.
Inglis’ performance underlined why he was voted the game’s best by his peers with two tries that will no doubt be added to an enormous highlights reel when his career is complete.
Not to be outdone, his centre partner Israel Folau almost stole Inglis’ thunder with a two-try first-half performance of his own that had to be seen to be believed.
The nine-tries-to-one win closed the gap on Manly’s superior points difference with the two sides to meet next Friday night in a top-of-the-table clash that will go a long way to deciding the minor premiership.
Folau’s first-half tries were almost identical with the towering 20-year-old picking up the ball 10 metres from the try-line before barging over the line with would-be defenders trying desperately to halt his momentum. They needn’t have bothered.
After Steve Turner had opened the scoring in the eighth minute, Inglis produced a piece of magic that sent the crowd into raptures. Picking up the ball 20 metres out in the middle of the ground, Inglis drifted left across the field before exploding towards the try-line, pushing defenders off with that unbelievable right-hand fend, and planting the ball over the line.
Jordan Ropana scored the Titans’ only try with three minutes to go in the half before Anthony Quinn scored the Storm’s fifth of the half in the last minute.
The scoreline could have looked a lot worse for the Gold Coast team had Cam Smith kicked straight. Unfortunately the wind played havoc with Smith’s radar, missing all five conversion attempts.
Two minuets into the second half Inglis produced his second piece of genius for the night. Halfback Cooper Cronk put up a towering bomb that Titans fullback Preston Campbell seemed to have covered. Inglis had other ideas. Running with the flight of the ball, Inglis challenged Campbell in the air, took the grab, landed and made the 10-metre dash to the try line.
Ryan Hoffman, Matt Geyer and Jeremy Smith rounded of the second half scoring for the Storm.
Smith must have changed his boots at half-time as he converted all four second-half attempts.
STORM 44 (Tries: Folau 2, Inglis 2, Turner, Quinn, Hoffman, Geyer, J Smith; Goals: Cam Smith 4) def. TITANS 4 (Try: Ropana) at Olympic Park