Current Storm prop Christian Welch could make a move away from the Melbourne based side, with various Sydney clubs circling.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Welch is after a new deal with the Storm beyond the 2020 season, however, he will consider other options.

The Storm is yet to formally table an offer to the 24-year-old, but are confident they will be able to keep him.

Welch is set to meet with the interested Sydney clubs later this month and would be a major coup, as the prop tries to force his way into the Queensland Origin side.

I think he's been really good," Queensland coach Kevin Walters told the Herald.

"He was off the pace a bit on the weekend but he's been really good, coming off the bench for the Storm and getting through a lot of work.

"A lot of quality work, too."

Walters believes Welch and other young Queensland forwards are a chance to play Origin, due to an injury to Dylan Napa and the recent suspension of Jarrod Wallace.

"That's one area where we have some good depth and we just want to see guys like Christian playing well every week, busting their arse for the clubs basically every week," Walters said.

"That's how you earn a jersey at higher levels."

Welch is not the only Storm player off contract at the end of the season, with Will Chambers, Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, Brodie Croft and Scott Drinkwater some of the names that also fall under that category.

Speaking to the media last month, Welch was upfront on his situation with the Storm.

"I'm realistic. I understand in our game there is a salary cap and in an ideal world players would like to stay at their club and be one-club players but there is restrictions on that," Welch said.

"It's kind of weighing up whether there is more room to grow at another club and whether I've potentially reached my ceiling here.

"Or whether there is an opportunity to stay here and continue to pursue not only the team goals but the individual goals I've got.

"You want to play more but I've also won a lot of games at the Storm. It's a great club and a great feeling to be a part of."

2 COMMENTS

  1. He is a bench player at the Storm yet he is highly sought after by Sydney clubs and is a fringe Origin player!

    Must be great to have so much depth that you have fringe Origin players on your bench.

  2. Storm would be silly to loose Christian Welch. They need to keep him and let go of Jesse Bromwich. Jesse is reaching 30 years old mark and he is not having the same impact as before. Another player whose time is up is Will Chambers. Time to promote younger blood.

Comments are closed.