Melbourne Storm reach historic deal to make North Sydney Bears a feeder club

The North Sydney Bears have signed a new partnership that has major ramifications for both NRL expansion and Sydney glamour club the Roosters.

The North Sydney Bears have struck an agreement with the Melbourne Storm.

Bellamy the Bear.

In an historic new partnership, the North Sydney Bears will become Melbourne Storm’s Sydney feeder club from 2024.

It is a significant step in the Bears’ bid for readmission into the NRL, having already been linked with a Pasifika consortium.

The deal ends the Bears’ five-year feeder club partnership with the Sydney Roosters.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy may now use the famous North Sydney Oval as a base during away trips to Sydney.

The two-year deal was announced on Wednesday afternoon at North Sydney Oval by Bears chief executive Gareth Holmes, Storm CEO Justin Rodski and Melbourne general manager of football, Frank Ponissi.

The Storm have struck a deal with the Bears. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“We jumped at it,” Ponissi said.

Melbourne players will now be divided among the Storm’s three feeder clubs — the Bears, Sunshine Coast Falcons and Brisbane Easts.

The Bears’ push to become the NRL’s 18th franchise continues to gather swift momentum.

The Storm-Bears contract will begin on November 1, and allow some Bears players and staff to participate in Melbourne’s exhaustive pre-season training program.

“The partnership announcement reinforces the fact that the Bears are not only a respected rugby league brand but a sought-after development route for NRL players,” Holmes said.

“We have been a feeder club for the Roosters, Rabbitohs and now the Storm, all successful NRL clubs who have trusted us to prepare players for their NRL programs.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.

“Our strong heritage aligned to our own pathway from Harold Matthews to the NSW Cup is strengthened further by this partnership giving our players a defined route to the NRL.”

The NRL may look to add an additional team by 2026/2027.

With top-end-of-town investors, a strong fan base and 115-year history, the Bears have become the punters’ favourites to re-enter the NRL as an expansion team.

A Bears statement read: “The Bears would like to thank the Sydney Roosters for their strong partnership over the last five years, and now the club looks forward to beginning a new journey with the Melbourne Storm from 2024.”

Joseph Suaalii playing for the Bears.

Storm management are “keen to build on their already successful feeder arrangements within the QLD Cup and expand into the Knock On Effect NSW Cup competition.”

“We have a long and proud partnership with both Easts and Falcons which has produced some great players for Storm over the years including our captain Christian Welch, Trent Loiero, Nicho Hynes and Tui Kamikamica,” Ponissi said.

“We were always interested in having a stronger connection with NSW rugby league given the number of players we have on our list from the state, so when this opportunity was presented, we jumped at it.

“From next season, we will have an even greater connection with NSW through the Bears, offering a genuine pathway for players to come to Melbourne Storm.

“We also think this partnership will be great for supporters of both clubs living in NSW as they can watch NRL players in the NSW Cup each week. We also see North Sydney Oval becoming a base for the Storm for some of our away trips.”

Originally published as Melbourne Storm reach historic deal to make North Sydney Bears a feeder club