CRONULLA and Melbourne have agreed on a historic NSW Cup joint venture.
Sport Confidential can reveal Melbourne will place their over-age lower graders with the Sharks feeder side in an unprecedented move that brings two rival NRL clubs together at the lower tier.
Desperate to cut costs after the salary cap blow-out, Melbourne decided to scrap their stand-alone NSW Cup team several months ago. The Storm flirted with Newtown and Brisbane Easts before settling with the Sharks, who are also under immense financial strain.
NSWRL boss Geoff Carr last night confirmed the clubs had agreed to merge, with only board approval from the league required to finalise the joint venture.
"Another big factor was the two head coaches - Craig Bellamy and Shane Flanagan," Carr said.
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"They've worked together previously at Origin level, so there's a good relationship there."
Newtown, meanwhile, will remain as the Roosters' feeder club, while Wests and Balmain will enter separate sides next year, despite a push from elements within Wests Tigers for them to join forces.
