NRL 2024: Local Victorian juniors on show in Melbourne in a history-making first for the Storm

For the first time in Storm history, all four of their Melbourne teams will play on the same day, where fans can get a front-row seat to see the next Victorian juniors set for an NRL debut.

Melbourne youngster Suliasi Prescott. Picture: NRL Imagery

Boom Melbourne fullback Sua Fa’alogo made it five Victorian local juniors to debut for Melbourne, now pathways manager Tim Glasby has revealed the players in line to take that number to six.

Jersey Flegg standouts and NRL hopefuls Sheldon Diaz and Suliasi Prescott will be on display this Saturday when the Storm’s four outfits – Harold Matthew (under 17s), SG Ball (Under 19s), Flegg (Under 21s) and NRL sides – take the field on the same day in Melbourne for the first time in the club’s history.

The duo, who featured in week one of the trials, are viewed as the next Victorian products to debut for the club following in the footsteps of Fa’alogo, Dean Ieremia, Richie Kennar, Young Tonumaipea and Mahe Fonua.

Prop Diaz and hooker Prescott will line-up against New Zealand as a curtain raiser to the NRL clash at AAMI Park.

Melbourne youngster Sua Fa'alogo was the fifth Victorian junior to debut, stealing the show with a stunning try. Picture: NRL Images

“We love Sheldon because of his aggression and his effort,” Glasby said.

“Anything you give him, he just goes out at a million miles an hour. And we love that. He’s in the academy and did a really good job in his first year and probably gone on a bit further with it this year.

“Suliasi he’s going on leaps and bounds. He’s got a high skill level, he’s a good strong player and a smart one too. He’s still developing but we are so happy with how he’s going. Any of those two could be our sixth player from Victoria.”

Backrower Jerry Musu is a local product also in the mix but is out with a serious shoulder injury and likely to miss the entire season.

Fellow Storm academy player, and Jersey Flegg captain, Stanley Huen is another exciting prospect. The five-eighth made a permanent move from Ipswich to Melbourne last year after being identified as a 15-year old.

“I’m pressed with how confident he is but he’s also just a tough bugger, he’s aggressive,” Glasby said.

“He’s got great skill, and he’s a really good ball runner with the attack and that’s probably the thing we love about him the most Is he nice and aggressive in defence and he’s not afraid of contact.”

Melbourne Storm captains Stanley Huen (Jersey Flegg), Harry Grant (NRL), Josiah Moreli-Alama (SG Ball), Micah Warena (Harold Matthews). Credit: Supplied.

Glasby also has high hopes for the talent in the SG Ball side, that will take on Parramatta at Gosch’s Paddock in the Storm precinct, which he believes will help accelerate the representation of Victorian local juniors in the NRL top 30 in the coming years.

“We’ve got a couple of really good local juniors players coming through in SG Ball too in fullback Hugo Peel, he’s a local boy and skilful with the ball in hand. Suli Pole is another, he’s a big, strong forward, Glasby said.

“Hopefully we can jump from six to 10 junior NRL players pretty quickly.”

The Storm fielded a Harold Matthews outfit for the very first time in 2024, giving the club a full suite of junior representative outfits in the NSWRL for the time ever.

It’s seen as crucial step in turning the Storm into a genuine development club.

“If you see that the first major step for you is the SG ball it seems like a long way away so it’s aspirational,” Glasby said.

“For development, they get to play at a higher level earlier than what they otherwise would have. In Melbourne the first exposure to a high level is the national school’s tournament but that lasts for a week and they go back to their local leagues. Now, they can come into our system sooner and get that exposure.”

NRL hopeful Suliasi Prescott will be on display this Saturday for Storm’s Jersey Flegg team. Picture: NRL Imagery

Elusive and speedy fullback Matthew Kereti and playmaker Waka Hammond, who trained with the NRL squad over the summer, headline the Harold Matthews outfit that will also take on the Eels at Gosch’s Paddock.

“Young Waka, who’s been playing in the halves he’s had a terrific season. Our fullback Matt Kereti he’s had a really good year as well. And then we’ve got Lockyer-Azile Foliola a dummy half, he’s going really well as well.

“They’re all local juniors and come through the system. We’re excited for them.”

For Glasby, the historic day will be a chance to turn the AFL-mad city purple for a day.

“It’s gonna be purple everywhere. It’s gonna be awesome,” Glasby said.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Local Victorian juniors on show in Melbourne in a history-making first for the Storm