Melbourne Storm extend links with QRL powerhouse Brisbane Tigers

Fresh from securing their ties with the Sunshine Coast Falcons the Melbourne Storm have deepend their affiliation with another source of Queensland talent.

(L-R) Cameron Munster and Christian Welch are two notable players to have progressed from the East Tigers to the Storm.

The Melbourne Storm have strengthened their Queensland rugby league ties by extending their partnership with the Brisbane Tigers for a further three seasons.

It means the powerhouse NRL club will continue its affiliation north of the border as they look to unearth some of the state’s best young talent.

The Tigers club has been a successful breeding ground for NRL talent with the likes of Cameron Munster, Christian Welch and Cody Walker each playing in the gold and black in the Intrust Super Cup.

It follows after Melbourne extended their links with the Sunshine Coast Falcons club until the 2024 season, earlier this year, in a further commitment to their Queensland affiliated feeder clubs.

Cameron Munster is just one of the former Easts Tigers to progress to the Storm squad. Picture: Jono Searle.

“Over the years there have been number of players who have been able to progress from the Tigers to being premiership winners with the Storm squad including the likes of Cameron Munster, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi and Kenny Bromwich,” Melbourne’s football boss Frank Ponissi said.

“Jordan Grant became the latest success story this year when he made his NRL debut against Newcastle.

“We expect the number of Tigers to Storm players to increase over the next three years.

Christian Welchplaying for the Easts Tigers in 2014. Picture: Scott Davis/SMP Images

“As well as sending our players to play Intrust Super Cup during the season, the partnership

continues to allow selected contracted Tigers players to come down for pre-season training each season.

“Those couple of weeks can turn into a Storm contract like Jordan achieved this season and Brenko Lee and Aaron Booth in 2020.”

Current Tigers players Tony Pellow, Wes Lolo, Bacho Salem and Darius Farmer have joined the Melbourne NRL squad this week to begin an eight-week preseason with Will Samuel set to join them in January.

“We have enjoyed a close relationship with the Storm over the past 11 seasons and are looking forward to further strengthening our relationship into the future,” Brisbane Tigers CEO Brian Torpy said.