Melbourne Storm to compete in NSWRL competitions

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui playing for the Thunderbolts in 2018.

The Victoria Thunderbolts have been rebranded and will now compete as the Melbourne Storm in the New South Wales Rugby League competitions in 2023.

The new partnership between NRL Victoria and the Storm allows the teams to play under the Storm name, wear the same jerseys and have access to the club’s coaching and training staff throughout the season.

Since 2015, the Thunderbolts have competed in both New South Wales and Queensland junior rep competitions. Until 2014, the team played as the Melbourne Storm in the NSW junior competitions, which included an SG Ball Grand Final appearance in 2009.

In 2019, after four years in Queensland, the Thunderbolts returned to the New South Wales competitions, which included playing in the Jersey Flegg Cup for the first time.

2023 will be the first time the Storm run a team in the Jersey Flegg, although in 2007, they lent their name to the Central Coast Storm, with whom they had a partnership.