18 May 2023
The Bears have announced they will become the feeder club to the NRL’s Melbourne Storm starting in 2024. This comes after the club agreed to end their feeder relationship with the Sydney Roosters last year, with the arrangement set to finish at the end of the 2023 season.
Norths’ top squad currently competes in the NSW Cup, the division below the NRL also known as reserve grade. Most NRL clubs simply have their club competing in reserve grade, however some opt to team up with NSW Cup clubs in feeder arrangements. For example the NRL’s Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks reserve grade team is the Newtown Jets NSW Cup team or Blacktown Workers feeds into the NRL’s Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
In fact Melbourne already has feeder partnerships with Queensland Cup clubs Sunshine Coast Falcons and Brisbane Easts. North Sydney will be the Storm’s third reserve grade team under the new 2 year agreement.
Bears CEO Gareth Holmes said: “The partnership announcement today reinforces the fact that the Bears are not only a respected rugby league brand but a sought-after development route for NRL players. We have been a feeder club for the Roosters, Rabbitohs and now the Storm, all successful NRL clubs who have trusted us to prepare players for their NRL programs” Holmes said.
Since being booted out of the NRL the Bears have had several reserve grade affiliations including New Zealand Warriors, South Sydney Rabbitohs and most recently the Roosters. This also includes a previous agreement with the Melbourne Storm in the mid 2000s which saw the likes of current QLD Maroons coach Billy Slater and former NSW Blues star James Maloney don the red and black at North Sydney Oval.
The new agreement again provides NRL pathways for Norths juniors. “Our strong heritage aligned to our own pathway from Harold Matthews to the NSW Cup is strengthened further by this partnership giving our players a defined route to the NRL” Holmes added.
For the Storm this provides a direct pathway for NSW players to Melbourne and is logistically easier for reserve grade players who live in Sydney. Melbourne Storm General Manager Frank Ponissi said “We were always interested in having a stronger connection with NSW Rugby League given the number of players we have on our list from the state, so when this opportunity was presented, we jumped at it.”
The feeder contract will begin 1st November 2023 to allow Bears players and staff to participate in Storm’s pre-season training program. Meanwhile the Bears continue to compete in the NSW Cup in a transition season away from the Roosters.