Melbourne Storm 2017

[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm have plenty of options to replace Marika Koroibete

MELBOURNE feel they’re well-placed to cover the loss of Marika Koroibete to rugby union ahead the 2017 NRL season.

Storm football director Frank Ponissi said that Victorian product Young Tonumaipea, ex-Wests Tigers flyer Josh Addo-Carr and centre Curtis Scott were in the running to fill the vacancy. “It’s a pretty open position to be honest,” Ponissi said.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/melbou ... ddd1b4228d

[Notaroboticfish]

Melbourne Storm winger Young Tonumaipea embraces the battle for starting spot

Even after watching one of his best mates take "his" spot on Melbourne Storm's wing, Young Tonumaipea couldn't get mad.

The Victorian-raised winger wanted to lock down a starting wing spot with the Melbourne Storm last season and his first six games showed it.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... l#comments

[Notaroboticfish]

Melbourne Storm star Billy Slater’s shoulder set for toughest test yet

MELBOURNE Storm fullback Billy Slater could begin full-contact training this week. Slater, 33, trained with a small contingent of players on Friday and ­impressed after being on a restricted-contact program leading up to Christmas.

He will be tested either this week or during a 12-day training camp in Geelong starting next Monday.

Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/melbour ... public_rss

"Toughest preseason ever".

[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm Cameron Munster open to five-eighth switch

The Storm's Cameron Munster says his switch to five-eighth is far from being finalised.

"I've been training at five-eighth, a couple of other boys have been training there as well. We've got a couple of good young talents coming through. We've got Brodie Croft, Scott Drinkwater. Jahrome Hughes is still injured at the moment but when he comes back he's a good talent as well. Curtis Scott is really training well this pre-season so we've got a couple of options.

Read more: http://www.nrl.com/munster-open-to-five ... fault.aspx

[zim]

1 proper option and few you're rolling the dice on.

[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm’s best 17 for 2017 NRL season: Kevin Proctor’s likely back row replacement

THE attention has been on Billy Slater’s impending return this pre-season, but it’s the contest for the spot in the Melbourne back-row which is shaping up as an intriguing battle.

The Storm have to fill the sizeable hole left by Kevin Proctor and Kenny Bromwich is likely to get first crack at the starting role alongside Tohu Harris having come off an impressive 2016 season where he featured in all 27 of the Storm’s games.

THE BEST 17

1. Billy Slater 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Cheyse Blair 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Jordan McLean 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Tohu Harris 13. Dale Finucane

Interchange:

14. Tim Glasby 15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 16. Christian Welch 17. Felise Kaufusi

OTHERS: Dean Britt, Charlie Galo, Slade Griffin, Jeremy Hawkins, Jahrome Hughes, Ryley Jacks, Tui Kamikamica, Mark Nicholls, Justin Olam, Curtis Scott, Brandon Smith, Joe Stimson, Shem Tatupu, Young Tonumaipea, Jake Turpin.

Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pre ... a8315bc4e0

[zim]

That right edge is looking a bit weak.

[Rick]

Beatable


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[Notaroboticfish]

What do they do when Slater inevitably gets injured?

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[Sid]

Munster to fullback Tofu to #6


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[Notaroboticfish]

Munster to fullback Tofu to #6


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That's a bit worrying for Melbourne. Harris is a brilliant second-rower. He's not great at 5/8

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[Botman]

They'll figure it out. They could put you or I in at 5/8th and as long as Cronk and Smith are playing we'd be fine

The spine at full strength looks scary
But outside of that and Harris/Bromwich boys it's not a great team

Chalk em up for another minor premiership

[Sid]

Munster to fullback Tofu to #6


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That's a bit worrying for Melbourne. Harris is a brilliant second-rower. He's not great at 5/8

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Storm fans could look at our lineup and say the same about Austin and Turner and they'd be just as right.

[Notaroboticfish]

Munster to fullback Tofu to #6


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That's a bit worrying for Melbourne. Harris is a brilliant second-rower. He's not great at 5/8

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Storm fans could look at our lineup and say the same about Austin and Turner and they'd be just as right.

Yes, except we won't be playing Turner for just about the entire season


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[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith and halfback Cooper Cronk join Billy Slater in training

THE band is back at Melbourne Storm with inspirational skipper Cameron Smith and halfback Cooper Cronk joining Billy Slater in training for 2017.

Smith, Cronk and New Zealand internationals Jesse Bromwich and Tohu Harris reported for duty at AAMI Park on Thursday after an extended holiday following the Four Nations. And their presence was felt at Gosch’s Paddock in the penultimate session before a two-week pre-season camp in Geelong.

Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pre ... a5a3a8befa

[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm star Cooper Cronk says Cameron Munster’s no certainty to wear No. 6

COOPER Cronk admits he’s surprised by accolades he keeps receiving in the twilight of his rugby league career.

"If you had of told me that 2016 would reap the rewards that it did I wouldn’t have believed it but that doesn’t change that you don’t strive for it. There’s always another mountain to climb and something to improve on."

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/melbou ... 59dcf592e8

Cronk not driven by grand final defeat: http://www.nrl.com/cronk-not-driven-by- ... fault.aspx

[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm veteran Cooper Cronk ready for new halves partner

Another year, another partner in the halves. That's the challenge awaiting Storm halfback Cooper Cronk.

"I think over my time at the club we've had different five-eighth options," Cronk said. "There'll be a couple of different structures if we have a Cameron Munster-like player, but don't rule out Brodie Croft or Curtis Scott. Those guys bring different dimensions to our team and we'll accommodate those."

Read more: http://www.nrl.com/cronk-ready-for-new- ... fault.aspx

[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm look to shuffle pack with Kenny Bromwich to replace Kevin Proctor

Kenny Bromwich is the frontrunner to replace second-rower Kevin Proctor, one of four Storm stars to leave last year after the losing grand final. The 25-year-old, mostly used off the bench as an impact player during the past four seasons, will see his minutes explode in 2017.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/melbou ... 24f5cc15e4

[greeneyed]

Billy Slater to return in Melbourne Storm trials

Injury-hit fullback Billy Slater will make his return from a year on the sidelines in Melbourne's NRL pre-season trial matches. The Storm won't risk the 33-year-old in February's Auckland Nines, with a shoulder injury limiting the former Australian and Queensland star to eight games in two years.

But assistant coach Jason Ryles said Slater will return to the field for the first time since round one of 2016 in the pre-season, seemingly removing any doubt over his readiness for the opening round of the NRL season.

Read more: http://www.nrl.com/slater-to-return-in- ... fault.aspx

Melbourne’s Billy Slater set to return in pre-season trials: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/melbou ... d498c5aaa5

[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm recruit Addo-Carr happy to be the next Koroibete

The Melbourne Storm might have lost Marika Koroibete to rugby union, but last year's minor premiers have a readymade replacement in new signing Josh Addo-Carr.

"I think I can achieve what he achieved and I think this is the team and the coaching staff to help me do that," Addo-Carr said.

"It wasn't an easy decision but I made the decision purely based on my future. I want to be the best player that I can be and I think under Craig Bellamy and playing with Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater, this is the place to be.

Read more: http://www.nrl.com/addo-carr-happy-to-b ... fault.aspx

[greeneyed]

Welch experiment works wonders for Melbourne Storm

Rugby league is littered with outside backs who made the transition into the forward pack but Storm youngster Christian Welch was purpose-built for the task.

A tall, strapping thing who grew up playing hockey in regional Queensland, Welch left Gladstone as a teenager to move to Brisbane to attend prestigious GPS school Villanova and captain the First XV rugby team.

Read more: http://www.nrl.com/welch-experiment-wor ... fault.aspx

Storm boys vow to step forward: http://www.nrl.com/storm-boys-vow-to-st ... fault.aspx

Melbourne's new youth movement: http://www.nrl.com/melbournes-new-youth ... fault.aspx

[greeneyed]

From carpenter to the Melbourne Storm, Ryley Jacks builds NRL career

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has a well-known practice of sending his first-year players to work on a building site. The veteran coach does this to remind his players being a professional footballer is a privilege, something those who have never worked before don't always understand.

New Storm signing Ryley Jacks knows the difference all too well. In November last year the 24-year-old left his job as a qualified carpenter and moved to Melbourne to sign with the Storm.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-l ... u4mjo.html

[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk won't follow Thurston into rep retirement

Cooper Cronk has two seasons remaining on his NRL deal but declared he won’t be following Thurston into representative retirement at the end of the year.

"I’ve never entertained the thought of retiring from rep football," Cronk said. "I still have a passion for it. As long as my level of play is at a high standard and I get rewarded with being picked in those teams, I don’t think I’ll ever give it up.

Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pre ... 954e605e13

[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm flyer Josh Addo-Carr aims for the Koroibete route into starting side

Melbourne Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr doesn't have to strike a new path, he simply needs to follow the trail left by Marika Koroibete. "As soon as Marika came down here he was killing it and I want to do what he was doing," Addo-Carr said on Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-l ... u89no.html

[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu re-signs until end of 2018

MELBOURNE flyer Suliasi Vunivalu has signed a new deal. The winger extended his contract a further year which keeps him in the purple jersey until at least the end of 2018.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/melbou ... bc7d99ad99

Melbourne Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu re-signs until end of 2018 NRL season: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-l ... udmfk.html

[greeneyed]

Johns hails Melbourne Storm youngster Brodie Croft as next great NRL star

LEAGUE legend Matty Johns says the Melbourne Storm have the best kept secret in the competition in their ranks and despite his freakish talent, only an injury will see the young star play first grade.

"You saw during the Nines. I sort of watched him over the last few years, he’s an absolute clone of Cooper Cronk. For all intents and purposes they’re going to start the season with (Cooper) Cronk at halfback, (Cameron) Munster at six and (Billy) Slater at one, which is an outstanding combination."

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/johns- ... ba0eb78a01

[simo]

Didnt he do this with luke brooks?


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[BrisbaneRaider]

I think he's done it with just about every halfback to debut in the last 10 years.

[RTW]

The NYC is proof enough of how many next big things there are that don't go on with it. You need a lot more then talent to nail down a spot in first grade, especially if you play in the halves.


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[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm will be without Billy Slater and Tohu Harris for start of the season

MELBOURNE Storm has been dealt a double-blow a week out from Round 1 with star fullback Billy Slater ruled out and representative back-rower Tohu Harris struck down with a stress fracture in his foot.

"He’s got a stress fracture in his foot, which is going to be an eight to 10-week injury, that’s not great," Bellamy said of Kiwi international Harris. "I’m pretty sure [Billy Slater] won’t be playing the first couple of rounds," Bellamy added.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/melbou ... 47e84bde79

[RTW]

I just saw Harris is out for up to 10 weeks.

I am definitely in the never write the storm off but not having Harris after Proctor leaving is a pretty big blow


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[Botman]

Yeah those two are pretty huge parts of their red zone offence
Going to be interesting to see how they adapt without them

[-PJ-]

I will go out on a limb here and say that Slater wont be involved much at all.

Yeah he may play a few games but it's over I reckon.......

[simo]

I think they all know that too and they're basically keeping him around to help sell sponsorships and memberships


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[greeneyed]

Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith dismisses fears that Billy Slater’s career is over

MAROONS skipper Cameron Smith has dismissed fears Billy Slater’s career is over, revealing the Storm sensation will definitely return to the NRL this season. Slater is set to be ruled out of Melbourne’s season-opener against Canterbury this Friday night, representing the latest setback in his return from a second shoulder operation.

"The good news is Billy Slater will play this year," Smith said.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/melbou ... ae68b30b56

Melbourne Storm star Jesse Bromwich expects lift from Jordan McLean, Nelson Asofa-Solomona: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-l ... ul8yg.html

Cooper Cronk sees shades of Greg Inglis in new No.6 Cameron Munster: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-l ... ulw5g.html