Melbourne Storm have joined forces with the City of Casey, signing a five-year partnership agreement as Storm builds towards its opening NRL match for the 2023 season.
The new partnership was announced at AAMI Park on Monday 13 February by City of Casey CEO, Glenn Patterson, and Melbourne Storm CEO, Justin Rodski.
Mr Patterson said the new partnership, which is in place until October 2027, is a game-changer for Casey and Melbourne’s south-east.
“We are thrilled to announce this new partnership. Melbourne Storm shares Council’s community-first ethos and will be a wonderful addition to our growing and diverse region,” Mr Patterson said.
City of Casey Chair of Administrators, Noelene Duff, echoed Mr Patterson’s sentiment.
“We want to inform, motivate, and create a wider variety of opportunities for physical activity, and remove any barriers to participation for Casey’s residents,” Ms Duff said.
“This partnership will no doubt help drive rugby league participation across the community, with free community programs and family day events.”
Mr Rodski said the new partnership with the City of Casey was an extension of Storm’s activities in the region in recent seasons.
“The City of Casey and the wider south-east is home to thousands of our Storm members and a real growth area for rugby league,” Mr Rodski said.
“In the past three seasons, we have conducted two very successful NRL trial matches at Casey Fields, as well as meeting our members and fans at open sessions and via our Storm in Your Club program.
“Storm is dedicated to developing more local Victorian juniors into NRL players and currently two juniors from the Casey Warriors Club, Sheldon Diaz and Jared Nauma, are on that pathway via our new Storm Academy program.
“NRL Victoria through the Storm Cup, Storm Premiership and Storm Junior League is also looking to continue to grow rugby league in the south-east via its five clubs and the work of its game development officers.
“We’re delighted to welcome City of Casey as an official Storm partner for the next five years and look forward to the joint benefits the partnership will bring to our club and the Casey community.”
