Melbourne Storm to blood another Victorian-born player in winger Dean Ieremia

Winger Dean Ieremia, a 19-year-old winger, looks set to join the likes of Mahe Fonua and Richie Kennar as Victorians to reach the NRL with Storm.

Dean Ieremia could become the latest Victorian to play for Melbourne Storm . (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)

The Melbourne Storm look set to blood another Victorian-born player with local junior Dean Ieremia a step closer to an NRL debut after being promoted to the Storm’s top 30 squad for 2021

Ieremia, a 19-year-old winger, joins the likes of Mahe Fonua, Young Tonumaepia, and Richie Kennar as Victorians to reach the NRL stage.

The emerging flyer has been on a development contract with Storm and takes up the 28th position in club’s roster for the upcoming season.

Ieremia will be available for selection for the round one clash with South Sydney at AAMI Park on March 11 and in a tussle with Reimis Smith, Isaac Lumelume and George Jennings for the right wing position vacated by premiership winner Suliasi Vunivalu.

The Sunbury Tigers junior was a tryscorer in the Storm’s 30-10 pre-season trial win against Newcastle in Albury at the weekend.

Ieremia played for Melbourne in the NRL Nines in Perth last year and in the trial game against NZ Warriors before being one of the players whose season was hugely impacted by COVID-19 competition shutdowns.

Victorian junior Dean Ieremia has been promoted to our top 30 squad for the 2021 NRL season.

Big V ✊

— Melbourne Storm 🏆 (@storm) March 1, 2021

Ieremia chose league over AFL after being recommended to trial for the Under 14 Victorian Thunderbolts side.

“One week after the trial I found out I made the squad at fullback,“ Ieremia said.

“I developed through the system in the Under 15s, 16s, 18s and the 20s Thunderbolts squad, which is when I was picked up by the Storm.

“But as a Victorian I did follow both AFL and NRL.”

Ieremia rates Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen as his number one influence.

“Paps is a talented player but his work ethic around the game motivates me as a young player to put my best foot forward in everything I do,“ he said.

“To be honest I’ve learned a lot from everyone in the Storm system, not only game related things but things outside of footy - the importance of family for one.”

Melbourne football manager Frank Ponissi said Ieremia had was starting to realise his potential.

“(NRL VICTORIA) identified him early on as a player with potential and he is starting to vindicate those predictions,” he said.

“Unfortunately, he missed out on basically a year of football in 2020 but the time he spent with us in what was largely a training role throughout that season, and the continued improvement he has shown during this pre-season, has warranted this upgrade to our top 30 list.”

Originally published as Melbourne Storm to blood another Victorian-born player in winger Dean Ieremia