Northern Rivers talent NickMeaney joins NRL expansion club

NORTHERN Rivers rugby league product Nick Meaney is set to become a foundation player at the Perth Bears after inking a deal with the newest NRL franchise.

The Bears will come into the competition in 2027, with Meaney to depart the Melbourne Storm at the end of this season after spending five seasons at the club.

Meaney grew up playing at Ballina and excelled at schoolboy level at St John’s College Woodlawn.

The 28-year-old made his NRL debut at Newcastle in 2018 before going on to play three seasons with Canterbury.

He has played his most consistent football at the Storm, having played in the last two grand finals with the club with 159 NRL games.

Meaney was full of praise for the Storm and will likely spend his final season at the club in the centres.

“Coming to this club was the easiest decision I’ve ever made, but deciding to leave has been the hardest,” Meaney said.

“My wife and I are forever grateful for everything this club has given us. We’ve met some of our closest friends and have raised our two boys here, who absolutely love everyone at the club.

“Regardless of my future, I am 100 per cent committed to helping Storm achieve our ultimate goal in 2026.

“It is a true honour to wear the purple jersey, and it’s going to be incredibly tough to leave.”

Meaney is one of the most versatile backs in the competition and can play centre, five-eighth, wing or fullback.

He is an invaluable player during the State of Origin period when the Storm lose a host of players to NSW and Queensland.

“We have a really strong culture at the Storm, we all know what to do when people are away and our standards never drop,” he said.

“The way the game is going, it’s handy to have a few guys in the team who can cover multiple positions.”

Meaney could line up in the centres against former Ballina teammate Brian Kelly when the Storm take on the Parramatta Eels in the first round of the NRL competition in March.