Victoria’s new $22 million dollar State Rugby League and Community Centre officially opens

Hume City Council today officially opened the $22 million dollar State Rugby League and Community Centre at Seabrook Reserve in Broadmeadows.

The Centre is destined to be the home of Melbourne Storm's male and female development pathway programs, NRL Victoria and its youth development squads, and Touch Football Victoria – backing players and teams from grassroots to elite levels.

Melbourne Storm Chief Executive Justin Rodski added “The continued growth of rugby league locally and introduction of new Melbourne Storm pathways programs for female and male players is exciting for the game in Victoria. With the support of the Victorian Government and Hume City Council, we hope to see more local players wearing the Storm jersey in years to come.”

The centre also features three new turf pitches, a pavilion with female friendly change rooms, a half pitch for touch rugby, high performance training facilities, medical facilities, match day amenities, a kitchen, and meeting and administration rooms, including space for community groups to meet.

Interest in rugby league in Victoria, and particularly among young girls and women, has been rapidly growing in Hume. With the opening of this premium facility in Broadmeadows, Council is excited about the new opportunities that the venue affords the region’s sporting community.

A special feature of the new development is that the centre will be used as a community hub - with community rooms, meeting rooms, kitchen and amenities available for hire to hold small or large events, catering for up to 80 people.

NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo shared “thanks to the support of the Victorian Government, Hume City Council and Melbourne Storm, not only will this facility turbo charge the development of young Victorians dreaming of wearing an NRL or NRLW jersey, it will also establish a state-of-the-art facility for the local community.”

Mayor of Hume City Naim Kurt noted “alongside elite football, cricket, AFL and tennis facilities under construction, this development will set a new standard for women's sport and Rugby League development in Hume.

"Not only is this a win for women's sport, it's also a win for the community with the new centre offering accessible space for the Broadmeadows community to host meetings, functions and forums as well as being a new home for the Northern Thunder Rugby League side."

Melbourne Storm’s elite players took to the Reserve's new rugby pitch for their captains run on the weekend, to test out the ground and run NRL and Touch Football clinics for children, all part of a fun family day organised by Council.

The event was a showcase for the possibilities that come with locals being able to access such facilities in their backyard; to not only connect with their community but witness sporting heroes in action close to home.

The Community Centre completes a staged unveiling of the Seabrook Reserve Redevelopment that saw the opening of a new community play space in 2023, with outdoor exercise equipment and picnic furniture.

The $22 million project is jointly funded by Council and supported by a $14.3 million contribution from State Government, NRL Victoria and Melbourne Storm, bringing one of the state's premier Rugby League and Touch Football facilities to the heart of Hume.