NRL news: Inside the secret mission to rebuild Melbourne Storm

Melbourne have drafted in 12 of the best young players from across the country to fast-track their development — check out the list and how they’re staying ahead of the game.

Former Melbourne Storm and All Blacks winger is back at his former NRL club as the pathways coach. Credit: Supplied

Melbourne has set up an elite academy – bringing in the best juniors from NSW, Queensland and Victoria – to ensure the Storm’s long-term success.

When greats Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk walked out the door the Storm had identified the likes of Harry Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster as long-term replacements. They are now already planning for life post Grant, Papenhuyzen, Munster and Jahrome Hughes by putting together the club’s first academy which aims to mirror the success of the Sydney Swans.

The Melbourne Storm have established a new NRL Academy squad for interstate prospects, similar to that of the Sydney Swans in the AFL. Picture: Supplied.

The Storm have drafted in 12 of the game’s best young players in the hope of fast-tracking their development. The players include ex-Penrith half Keagan Russell-Smith who kicked the winning goal to clinch the Panthers’ SG Ball title earlier this year.

Other players include Australian Schoolboys hooker Gabriel Satrick, Poasi Manu – the brother of ex-Storm hard man Sika — and Angus Hinchey, the son of former South Sydney and Parramatta forward James.

Three Victorians are also in the elite squad. They will be coached by dual international Matt Duffie and Storm premiership winner Tim Glasby.

“When Covid-19 hit we’ve had Victorian kids leaving the state for opportunities,” Duffie said. “The last month we had five or six 13-15 year olds going to Queensland to take up scholarships because they saw a better opportunity. It’s disappointing. We dropped the ball because we didn’t have a complete pathways.

“Re-branding our younger sides from the Thunderbolts to the Storm will help.”

Former Melbourne Storm and All Blacks winger Matt Duffie is back at his former NRL club as the pathways coach. Picture: Supplied

Since the end of the national under-20s competition in 2017 the Storm felt they have not produced enough talent coming through their development system. They hope the academy will rectify that.

“You don’t recruit young kids thinking they are going to be the next Cameron Smith,” Duffie said.

“But you bring young guys in and it becomes obvious by the way they train and how they handle the environment if they are going to step up.

“Since the under-20s ended we have dropped off our development. That’s coincided with some inconsistency at the NRL level – particularly this year.”

The non-Victorian players have moved to Melbourne permanently and will take part in the Storm’s gruelling pre-season.

“After pre-season they will drop out and join our under-21s program,” Duffie said.

“They all have jobs on the side. Throughout the season we will bring them up to the NRL squad once a week to keep up that exposure and upskilling.

“It will also help the rest of our under-21s players having these guys come back to them.

“Clubs that develop their players are getting sustained success.”

Melbourne have established a new academy squad for interstate prospects, similar to that of the Sydney Swans in the AFL. Picture: Supplied.

The academy is the brainchild of long-term Melbourne general manager of football Frank Ponissi who said the club was “excited about the program”.

“Especially with people in Matt and Tim overseeing it,” Ponissi said.

“They understand what it takes to be a Melbourne Storm player.”