Storm to continue the push

MELBOURNE Storm is looking into the concept of a "super club" with AFL's Melbourne Demons and several other city teams, but have assured fans they will never change their colours or name.

Storm boss Brian Waldron said last night his NRL club was investigating the benefits of linking up with the Demons (AFL), the Melbourne Victory (A-League), the Tigers (NBL) and the Phoenix (netball) in a Team Melbourne initiative.

The Phoenix netball side yesterday agreed to change their colours into the navy and red of the Demons, but Waldron stressed the Storm would never follow suit.

"Not in a billion years," he said. "There would be no change of colours or name."

Waldron said he was looking into Team Melbourne idea for potential in sharing back office resources and synergies in areas such as sponsorships, merchandise, marketing and memberships.

The Phoenix may develop training facilities attached to the purpose-built football ground being built for the Storm and the Victory at Olympic Park.

Meanwhile, in a show the NRL is slowly making inroads in AFL territory, Channel Nine will show the third State of Origin live in Victoria for the first time.

The Telstra Dome decider is sold out.

"People are no longer rusted on to one sport. They will take an interest in other games," Nine chief executive Eddie McGuire told The Saturday Daily Telegraph.

"Melbourne Storm games are not massive raters in Melbourne. But we have no qualms whatsoever in putting State of Origin III live on Channel Nine in Melbourne.

"It's a massive event in that town on that particular night. It's sold out at Telsta Dome"

The Daily Telegraph