The Melbourne Storm will join up with Sunshine Coast Falcons in search of future NRL stars

MELBOURNE Storm will place its greatest ever footprint in Queensland by linking with the Sunshine Coast in the search for a new wave of NRL superstars.

On Tuesday, the Storm will announce an alliance with the Sunshine Coast Falcons, giving Melbourne two development footholds in Queensland to rival the Broncos, Titans and Cowboys.

Storm football manager Frank Ponissi will fly north on Tuesday morning to formalise links with the region that helped develop Maroons ace Daly Cherry-Evans.

The 2012 premiers already have feeder-club ties to Intrust Super Cup powerhouse Easts Tigers. And the latest strategic move will give Melbourne access to 3000 registered Queensland juniors in one of the NRL’s most untouched rugby league nurseries.

A decade ago, Melbourne’s partnership with Norths Devils spawned a generation of Origin stars in Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Dallas Johnson.

Now the Storm’s dual development arms will ensure their presence in Queensland is stronger than ever as Melbourne chiefs look to mine fresh talent.

The Bulldogs were initially tipped to broker a feeder-club arrangement with the Sunshine Coast but The Courier-Mail understands the Storm have stolen their thunder.

The development is another coup for the embattled Falcons, who produced a stunning 26-24 upset of Redcliffe last Saturday to end a 36-game losing streak.

NSW Origin duo Tony Williams and Trent Hodkinson helped Sunshine Coast to the Queensland Cup title in 2009, while Manly plucked Cherry-Evans from the region 12 months later.

Melbourne will sever NSW Cup ties with NRL rivals Cronulla and Easts Tigers supremo Des Morris, also a Maroons selector, praised Melbourne’s march into the Sunshine Coast.

“Instead of sending kids to Cronulla, they will be sending players to the Sunny Coast which is great for our state and the Queensland Cup,” Morris said.

“It’s a good foothold for the Storm. It has been difficult for them having a partnership with a rival NRL side (Cronulla) but this will be good for the guys at the Sunny Coast and the local competition as well.

“The Big Three (Smith, Slater and Cronk) were spotted by Melbourne in Queensland so they are a prime example of what can be achieved.

“We’ve had a successful relationship with the Storm and that will continue so we have no issues with Melbourne joining forces with the Sunny Coast.”

The Storm dipped their toe in the water in March by supplying a handful of under-20s players to bolster the struggling Falcons.

Melbourne do not plan to target Broncos, Cowboys or Titans juniors, but their increased presence in Queensland is sure to create added competition for emerging stars.

Source: http://www.nrl.com