Victorian local Young Tonumaipea has agreed to terms with Melbourne Storm for a further two years, becoming the second player to re-commit to the Club in consecutive days.
Tonumaipea, who played with junior club Northern Thunder in the local VRL competition, became the second Victorian player to represent Melbourne Storm when he made his NRL debut against Manly in Round 1 this season.
Tonumaipea, 21, has quickly proved to be a threatening attacking outlet for Storm in his second season with the Club’s first-grade squad.
Be at AAMI Park in Round 13 when Storm take on the Roosters. Book tickets.
The powerful winger is a graduate of the Club's junior development pathway program having progressed through Storm’s SG Ball and U20 system.
A stand-out 2012 season in Storm’s NYC team saw Tonumaipea play every game and score 11 tries. As a result, he claimed multiple honours at Storm’s 2012 Player of the Year Awards, winning the Under 20’s Player of the Year Award as well as the Greg Brentnall Young Achievers Award.
The dangerous outside back has played every game this season and also made his representative debut, playing for Samoa in the mid-year Test match against Fiji.
Storm Football Director Frank Ponissi said Tonumaipea’s signature was exciting for the future of the Club.
“Young is an exciting talent and he has worked extremely hard on all parts of his game and we are very pleased to have him in Melbourne, his hometown, until at least the end of the 2016 season,” Ponissi said.
“Young along with the likes of Tohu Harris, Ben Hampton, Jordan McLean and Kenny Bromwich are developing into very good NRL players, they have come through the Storm system together and are the future of the Club.”
