When the Melbourne Storm was purchased last April from News Limited by a private consortium it was always with the intention of being part of the biggest sporting franchise not only in Australia, but the world.
Today’s landmark announcement that English Premier League giants Manchester City have bought into struggling A-League franchise Melbourne Heart is massive news for the football world, but the story gets much bigger.
The new Melbourne Storm owners have also gotten into bed with Manchester City and taken a substantial stake in the Heart.
Another high profile Melbourne identity has also been invited to participate and more sporting teams are expected to be part of the franchise that is likely to include the AFL and the Big Bash League.
The Storm is expected to play a home game this season in Wellington (NZ), but next year could play a game at the City of Manchester Stadium, hosted by the football club.
This is a huge opportunity for the NRL to showcase two Australian rugby league teams to a new audience that could include current football boss Manuel Pellegrini and his players Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure, David Silva, Samir Nasri, Fernandinho and Alvaro Negredo.
With creative owners like Bart Campbell, Matt Tripp, Gerry Ryan and a CEO like Mark Evans, who did wonders with the English rugby club Harlequins, the Melbourne Storm are the “bullet” movers in the NRL as they look to consolidate and build on their already impressive history.
High on the priority list is maintaining their elite players and skipper Cam Smith is top priority.
When season 2013 had finished there is no doubt that the Storm owners had conceded that they would lose their champion hooker to the Brisbane Broncos to a massive $1.4m a year deal over three years. He clearly did not want to leave the club he loves but he also had pressure from family who are based in Brisbane.
Make no mistake that Cam Smith was gone, but the body language since he has come back from holidays with his wife and family has underlined how important the Storm is in his life.
Smith will have to take a massive pay cut of around $1m if he stays with the Storm and, like former teammates Greg Inglis, will say “no” to a massive Broncos offer.
I put my Roar ‘Guru’ status up for grabs last October when I suggested that Cam Smith would sign with the Broncos, and prior to Christmas, I changed the suggestion to 80/20.
I am now saying that I am backing the influential Storm owners to keep their skipper and re-sign him for three years.
Circumstances change, people change their minds, but one thing is certain, the Melbourne Storm will continue to grow.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
$20m a year on non heartland areas whether it be to a privately owned club or a membership based one is fraught with extreme risk,and there are no iron clad guarantees of success.So the risk is even more so ,with a far greater amount involved. The risk for the Storm owners,is the money for them is 5 years inclusive of 2014.It ends then in 2018 Privatisation is a far bigger risk than having head office pay you x amount ad infinitum to ensure you stay in the game. The money the Storm will receive(and NB News Ltd wanted $30m over 5 years,will be more than made up,by @ the exposure re promotional work,schools etc in that state b) the Tv ratings back to the Northern states C)the fact Melbourne is the 2nd largest city in this country. In fact the losses have been greatly reduced and the new owners are confident of break even in a couple of years,after doing their due diligence test.Points noted by Masters who is close to the club. Seeing all the money thrown at the swans(after 32 years) either by the AFL (including their laughable living allowance),and a couple of private owners,plus all the money on marketing and promiton,the Storm deserve the funding to get on their own two feet. Sporting clubs are a risky proposition whether private or not.Even AFL clubs in Vic,have poker machine monies to underpin them.The Storm don't have that luxury either.
clipper
Guest
But the AFL does not give $20 million to a club that is owned by a private investor - the AFL and NRL can give as much as they want to develop the game in diffucult areas, but my point is that it's not as risky owning a club when you are gifted $4.41 million a year.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
They do not now in 2014 , that has been well publicised when the sale negotiations were on,that is a starter.$4.41m(my bad) is still substantially less than $6m.And that money is to be used for development,promotional work in a non heartland area.And not salary caps. Let's put it another way,the $4.41m pa is an ocean away from the $20m pa ,the AFL(governing body grants) grants GWS and the Suns in supposed non heartland areas,even though other teams have been there for a couple of decades..You quibbling about their largesse? LOL Tinkler and Man U are not exactly operating in pioneer areas,are you serious?.
clipper
Guest
Sorry, they used to receive 6 million per year, didn't realise that it had gone done to $4.1 (it's actually $4.41) per year. Does Tinkler receive 'just' $4.41 million per year? do the owners of Man U, Chelsea etc get millions from their governing body?
Mal
Guest
Tron, your cognitive processes don't appear to be working to well - take a few deep breaths and read the article again mate.
Evander
Guest
Good deflection, Scotty. You can go back to pretending that you got it right. I'm not bagging the Queen. Her greed didn't damage rugby league and kill foundation clubs like Ribot's did. Are you going to begin your next article with "once upon a time"?
kidneypie
Guest
millenium magic was staged at the citys ground, so they definitely don't mind league being played there.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Muzz Thanks for putting some sanity and positivity back..................... Mate I intend to do a full preview next week but clearly about 5 teams will not want to win and will hope to fly home on the sat night. I think it will be great fun to watch but I am not sure as yet about betting. If the pom plays for NZ they will be hard to beat.. Its worth noting that the Sharks and the Tigers are broke and the 450k prize would be useful.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Evander anyone u wanna bag? What about the Queen/
Evander
Guest
Scotty, Ribot nearly killed rugby league with the greedy Super League crap. Storm was his pay-off from Murdoch for dirty deeds done. And I feel sorry for self-proclaimed gurus, experts, scoopsters, big-noters and name-droppers who can't admit when they are wrong. Oh, and is that the same Melbourne Storm that cheated? It's difficult to be positive about cheats...
Evander
Guest
I don't get excuses, Scotty. You changed your bet after they jumped. Man up.
Muzz
Guest
Scotty any tips for the 9s???
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Evander I have already admitted my early mail was wrong and gave the reason why. I have tried to correct a wrong. .....so u r going to bag Ribot now are you? Well done mate, he only founded the Broncos, the Storm, the Bris Roar and Super League. I feel sorry for negative people. If you and ya mate Jez can be balanced in your comments I dont need you to read my stuff. Easy!
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Jez u r repeating yourself now mate. I have no problem with anyone having a crack, thats wot this is for. I do have a problem with people who ONLY ever say negative things and never give any balance. I dont know Cams best friend and my source impeccable and he is just as surprised as any given that he literally puts in hand in his kick and pays his salary.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Evander, All true, wots the problem? Its like ya GF says Evander you are gone I have a better deal, but after a while she realises u are a good guy and changes her mind. Why cant u get that?
Evander
Guest
My best advice to Scott would be to admit it when you are wrong, don't eat meat pies at postponed race meetings...and get rid of the smirk.
JezRu
Roar Pro
This is right Evander, I have mentioned this also below. I get the feeling though that Scott is not very good at admitting when he's wrong. Therefore he will just re-write history. Maybe IMO means In My source john ribots Opinion :-)
JezRu
Roar Pro
Contrary to what you might think Scott I can read and do not require a picture. Are you only looking for positive responses to your pieces? Seems to me you really struggle with criticism. In your original piece on this you were quite defensive in response to some roarers, you didn't mention in those responses that they were someone elses words? "Deal is done" and "u r not listening mate. Cam is GONE!" Being just two of these respomses. I think youmeven told one roarer that you expect an apology in a couple of months time when proven right. Will you be offering your apology to the roarer as now they were proven right? So you were adamant this deal would happen, shot down all who disagreed on the back of 1 man's word who no longer resides in the inner sanctum of the club. Did you not think to corroborate this story with other, maybe more reliable sources before presenting it as fact? I think you made an assumption based on hearsay. Until a player, his manager or club confirm a signing it is all speculation. Maybe Cam Smith's "close friend" isn't as close as he thinks he is?
Evander
Guest
Scott, on 14/10/13 at 2.18pm on The Roar, you wrote: "The deal is done verbally IMO". Now you say that "done deal" were not your words and that you "copied them" from your "source". If "IMO" means 'in my opinion', then it appears that they were your words. And at 11.32pm that same day, you also wrote: "U R not listening mate. Cam is GONE! 2014 is his swan song at Storm." Now you say that it isn't. My head's spinning!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Actually Clipper, the Storm receives just over $4.1m pa from the NRL,based on $26.5m over 6 years,being part of the agreement with News Ltd when they moved out of the partnership. Already one year has been used up,and the new owners get the benefit of the next 5 years. All clubs receive grants additionally as does the Storm,