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Melbourne have held a secret meeting with Bulldogs flyer Nick Meaney as the premiers ramp-up plans to replace Cronulla-bound utility back Nicho Hynes.
The Courier Mail can reveal Meaney flew to the Sunshine Coast for talks with Storm coach Craig Bellamy in the lead-up to Melbourne’s clash with the Warriors on Sunday at Central Coast Stadium.
The Storm successfully pulled off a cross-code poaching raid on Thursday by securing Waratahs rugby forward Tepai Moeroa and now they are gunning for off-contract Canterbury utility back Meaney.
Melbourne have room to move in the salary-cap following Hynes’ decision to join Cronulla next season and they have upped the ante for Meaney, who faces the Dragons at Stadium Australia on Monday.
The Storm are so keen on Meaney he was flown to Melbourne’s temporary base on the Sunshine Coast for talks with Bellamy and football-chief Frank Ponissi, who tabled a two-year offer.
Meaney is a man in demand with the Sharks and a third NRL rival also targeting the 23-year-old, but the Storm remain hopeful of winning the battle for his signature.
The Storm are traditionally not overly aggressive in the player market but they have been active this year, kicking off their recruitment drive by poaching Queensland Origin winger Xavier Coates from the Broncos last month.
The Storm were hopeful of keeping Hynes but the 24-year-old was reluctant to play second fiddle to fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, a sentiment justified by his sizzling form over the past six weeks that netted him a $1.8 million deal with Cronulla.
Hynes’ decision prompted Melbourne chiefs to go on the hunt for a well-priced utility back and they have identified Meaney as a viable replacement.
The Lismore-born Meaney made his NRL debut with Newcastle in 2018, playing five matches, before moving to the Bulldogs, where he has scored 16 from 48 games as a speedy fullback or winger.
The Courier Mail can reveal Meaney flew to the Sunshine Coast for talks with Storm coach Craig Bellamy in the lead-up to Melbourne’s clash with the Warriors on Sunday at Central Coast Stadium.
The Storm successfully pulled off a cross-code poaching raid on Thursday by securing Waratahs rugby forward Tepai Moeroa and now they are gunning for off-contract Canterbury utility back Meaney.
Melbourne have room to move in the salary-cap following Hynes’ decision to join Cronulla next season and they have upped the ante for Meaney, who faces the Dragons at Stadium Australia on Monday.
The Storm are so keen on Meaney he was flown to Melbourne’s temporary base on the Sunshine Coast for talks with Bellamy and football-chief Frank Ponissi, who tabled a two-year offer.
Meaney is a man in demand with the Sharks and a third NRL rival also targeting the 23-year-old, but the Storm remain hopeful of winning the battle for his signature.
The Storm are traditionally not overly aggressive in the player market but they have been active this year, kicking off their recruitment drive by poaching Queensland Origin winger Xavier Coates from the Broncos last month.
The Storm were hopeful of keeping Hynes but the 24-year-old was reluctant to play second fiddle to fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, a sentiment justified by his sizzling form over the past six weeks that netted him a $1.8 million deal with Cronulla.
Hynes’ decision prompted Melbourne chiefs to go on the hunt for a well-priced utility back and they have identified Meaney as a viable replacement.
The Lismore-born Meaney made his NRL debut with Newcastle in 2018, playing five matches, before moving to the Bulldogs, where he has scored 16 from 48 games as a speedy fullback or winger.