The Melbourne Storm have got one over the AFL, nabbing former Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell.
Maxwell, who retired at the end of the 2014 season after a 208-game career which included captaining the Magpies to the 2010 premiership, has been appointed the NRL club’s leadership development coach.
The former All-Australian will work one day a week with the Storm after performing a managerial cross-code switch in what is a promotional coup for the rugby league club in AFL-mad Melbourne.
Maxwell is relishing the prospect of working alongside Storm coach Craig Bellamy and Melbourne captain Cameron Smith.
“I’ve always had a lot of respect for the Melbourne Storm as an organisation,” Maxwell said in a club statement.
“To work with Craig, Cameron Smith and their leadership group, as well as some of the most talented emerging leaders in the game is something I am really looking forward to.”
AFL has scored body blows on rugby league in recent years after signing Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau.
While neither Hunt nor Folau achieved great on-field success in the AFL – with both having defected to rugby union – however the pair were powerful marketing tools for expansion franchises the Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants.
Maxwell will oversee the Storm’s emerging leadership program and work with the NRL squad’s leadership group.
“We are really excited to have Nick as part of Melbourne Storm’s staff,” said Storm football director Frank Ponissi.
“He enjoyed an outstanding career at Collingwood and has a reputation as one the best leaders in sport.
“He understands young men having led a similar group during his time at Collingwood, particularly during his five years as captain, and will help us grow our next group of Storm leaders.”
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