A new mid-season event launched by Melbourne Storm and NRL Victoria will give some of rugby league’s youngest players a chance for face-to-face time with NRL players.
The Storming the Juniors initiative on July 11 will take Storm players to three locations in Melbourne’s north, south and west – AJ Davis Reserve at Airport West, Comely Banks Reserve at Officer and Haines Drive Reserve at Wyndham Vale.
Over two hours, they’ll be involved in various on-field and off-field roles, as well as taking time out for photos and autographs.
Storming the Juniors is open to under-sixes through to under-eights who are registered players with clubs in the Storm Junior League.
Multiple Storm players will be allocated to each of the three venues.
Three Victorians who have progressed to Storm’s squad - Dean Ieremia, Young Tonumaipea and Sua Fa’alogo - will be involved in the Airport West event.
Ieremia played his junior football with the Sunbury Tigers, while Fa’alogo is a Northern Thunder junior who has progressed to state league level so far this season.
Tonumaipea, also a Thunder representative, rejoined Storm this season and is looking to add to his career tally of 53 NRL matches.
“I always love getting back to the juniors and passing on whatever I can to them,” Ieremia said.
“Storming the Juniors is going to be a fun couple of hours for the kids just starting out.”
NRL Victoria General Manager Brent Silva said: “Storming the Juniors adds to the valuable partnership that exists between Storm, NRL Victoria and our local rugby league clubs.
“Our youngsters will really enjoy having such close contact with the players they look up to.
“It’s going to be a great experience for them.”
Under-six and under-seven age groups play a non-contact “tag” version of rugby league with the under-eights playing a highly modified format for safety and maximum participation.
If you are looking to play or participate in the Storm Junior League find your local club at playrugbyleague.com.
