Bulldogs utility Nick Meaney to switch clubs next season

Just days after Dallin Watene-Zelezniak confirmed his mid-year exit, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have lost another star for 2022.

Meaney joins Broncos star Xavier Coates in migrating south for 2022. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Bulldogs utility Nick Meaney will join the Melbourne Storm on a two-year deal from next season.

The 23-year-old had previously been linked with a move south, and the Storm made it official on Friday afternoon.

“We see a lot of upside in Nick,” Melbourne’s general manager of football Frank Ponissi said of Meaney’s signing.

“We believe that not only will Storm be good for his football, having him at AAMI Park will be good for us.

“We look forward to seeing Nick run out in the purple jersey next year.”

Nick Meaney will join the club at the start of the 2022 pre-season.

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— Melbourne Storm 🏆 (@storm) June 25, 2021

The Bulldogs’ roster features a handful of outside backs with contracts expiring at the end of the season.

With the season past its halfway point, it remains to be seen whether the likes of Christian Crichton, Will Hopoate, Jayden Okunbor and Tui Katoa will follow Meaney out of Belmore.

News of Meaney’s exit comes just days after another Bulldogs back, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, confirmed a mid-season switch to the Warriors.

Meaney made his debut for the Newcastle Knights in 2018 before signing on with the Bulldogs the following year.

Meaney (right) played five games for the Knights. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

A versatile back with handy goalkicking abilities, Meaney has chalked up 55 NRL appearances across his four seasons in the top flight.

He’s become a mainstay of the Bulldogs’ roster in his three seasons at the club, but he’ll have his work cut out for him if he hopes to become a regular in the Storm’s best 17.

Melbourne’s outside back stocks for 2022 boast the likes of Xavier Coates, George Jennings, Justin Olam and Reimis Smith.

Coates and Meaney come into the squad as Josh Addo-Carr and Brenko Lee plot futures with the Bulldogs and Broncos respectively.