Very interesting move by Melbourne Storm :clap
THE New South Wales Central Coast has plenty of appeal.
A sub-tropical climate and endless sandy beaches, a growing population of more than 300,000 that is mad about sport, and a world-class sports arena, Bluetongue Stadium.
Yet, despite all this, it is without an NRL presence.
Which is why Melbourne Storm is trying to cash in on the region.
Storm yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its brand nationally when it announced sponsor Medibank Private would be jumping on board its affiliate, the Central Coast Storm.
The Storm will have six teams competing under its banner on the Central Coast this year.
There are five junior representative teams, ranging from under-12s to under-18s, as well as a team in the NSW Premier League, coached by former Melbourne forward Jamie Feeney.
They will be based at the club's Mt Penang headquarters, also home to the NSW Country Rugby League, which the Storm recently funded to upgrade the changerooms and gym.
It is understood Melbourne has invested around $500,000 in the region.
Its reward should come from the emergence of talented juniors. The region has a junior rugby league base of more than 4000 players.
"It's a rugby league stronghold," Storm chief executive Brian Waldron said yesterday.
"Our No. 1 focus has always and will always be to grow the game in Melbourne and Victoria. To grow our brand nationally we need to seek markets where we can expand our supporter base."
A host of premiership players and coach Craig Bellamy joined businessman and supporter of all things Central Coast, John Singleton, at yesterday's sponsor's lunch in Gosford for tonight's trial against Manly at Bluetongue.
Singleton desperately wants the Central Coast to have a NRL team of its own.
He narrowly lost out to the Gold Coast Titans, which secured the NRL's 16th licence in the last expansion.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23215769-11088,00.html