2023 Storm Premiership: All you need to know
The 2023 Storm Premiership will kick off this weekend at Clearwood Drive Reserve, with the Men’s First, Second and Third Grade as well as the Women’s First Grade competition all in action.
The Truganina Rabbitohs will be out to defend their crown in the Men’s First Grade, while the Werribee Bears will be the team to beat in the Women’s First Grade after making it back-to-back Premiership in 2019 and 2022 (Covid affected 2020,2021 seasons).
It’ll be up to the next crop of young talent to stand up for both sides, with Truganina set to be without last year’s NRL Victoria Men’s Player of the Year Ben McIntyre (relocation), while the Bears will be without NRL Victoria Women’s Player of the Year and club stalwart Tiana Kani (retirement).
The Waverley Oakleigh Panthers will be coming into the new season with an extra spring in their step, having taken out the 2023 Pre-Season Challenge just a few weeks earlier, defeating the Altona Roosters 26-6 in the final.
After clinching the Second Grade Premiership in 2022, the Sunbury Tigers will be the new faces in the Men’s First Grade this season while last year’s Third Grade Premiers the Waverley Oakleigh Panthers will front up in the Men’s Second Grade.
After having a five-team competition in 2022, the Second Grade competition will have two new faces this season, with the Casey Warriors and Truganina Rabbitohs both represented this year.
However, the most movement comes in the Men’s Third Grade competition, with a whopping five new teams entering the competition in 2023.
While the Melton Broncos, Casey Warriors, Altona Roosters return in the Men’s Third Grade, they’ll be joined by the Geelong Sharks, Frankston Raiders, North West Wolves, Doveton Steelers and South East Titans in what is set to be a huge boost to the competition.
We will see five sides battle it out in the Women’s First Grade, with the Werribee Bears, Truganina Rabbitohs, Altona Roosters (after Rd 4) and newcomers the Casey Warriors and Sunshine Cowboys (after Rd 4) all in action.
All senior fixtures can be found at playrugbyleague.com.