THE Melbourne Storm will play its first ever NRL-sanctioned game against the Newcastle Knights at Lautoka’s Churchill Park in February.
This ground-breaking sports development was announced by Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka and the Melbourne Storm management at the Fiji Tourism Convention at the Shangri-las Fijian Resort in Sigatoka yesterday.
Also part of the announcement was Fiji Bati skipper and Melbourne Storm prop Tui Kamikamica.
The trial match which will kick off on February 24 will culminate after a week-long activities, clinics and planned communities and business events.
Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said they saw this as an enormous opportunity of growth and an opportunity for them to give back to the local community and to the communities of Fijian stars like Tui Kamikamica who played a pivotal role in the side.
“We will make sure that everything we do while here in Fiji is respecting the wonderful culture and spirit of the Fijian people,” Rodski said.
“We are extremely excited and proud; this is going to be a historic day.
“We look forward to see you in February.”
Gavoka said the ground-breaking match would be supported by Fiji Airways and Fiji Tourism. With tickets and travel packages now available online, the match alone is expected to boost the local rugby league fraternity as well as the tourism industry.
“With strong recovery, there is no better time to leverage major events,” Minsiter Gavoka shared.
“The Storm will take on the Knights at Churchill Park, Lautoka in their last trial match and this is great because its traditionally our off-peak season.”
A series of pre-match events have been lined up for the exciting trial match and local communities, schools and individuals have something exciting to look forward to in the Sugar City.
