It is believed that the Melbourne Storm managed to land the signature of Xavier Coates on a two-year contract despite tabling a less lucrative deal than both the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans.
The winger already has Origin experience, but reports suggest he made the move as a result of the Storm’s proven track record in developing young players.
Following the Coates deal, Fox Sports NRL reporter Darcie McDonald was asked by SEN host Jimmy Smith if players should accept less money to play for the perennial contender and be coached by Craig Bellamy.
“If I were an NRL player and the Storm came knocking on my door, given their success and how professional they are, I’d 100 per cent take a pay cut,” McDonald said on SEN 1170 Afternoons.
“To go to that club and be coached by Craig Bellamy if he goes around one more year, he’ll be coached by the best in the game, so I don’t blame Xavier Coates.
“If the Broncos weren’t in the position that they are at the moment, maybe it would have been a tougher position.
“But, how do you say no to the Storm?”
McDonald believes Coates could follow a similar progression to the man he is set to replace in Canterbury-bound winger Josh Addo-Carr.
“He’s going to take Josh Addo-Carr’s position and look what the Storm have turned him into,” McDonald said.
“He became an Origin player and now he can go and chase the big money with the Bulldogs.
“It’s such a good step for his career, he’s only 20 years old too, so we haven’t seen the best of him.
“Under Craig Bellamy and in the Storm system, he could turn into a superstar of the game.”
Coates will make the move south before to the 2022 pre-season.