By Melissa Tabet (Tigers Media)
The Suzuki Brisbane Tigers send their congratulations to Tigers junior and Melbourne Storm player, Christian Welch on reaching an incredible milestone.
Welch (Tigers Player #1240) will play his 100th NRL game in this week’s Round 4 Good Friday clash against the Brisbane Broncos. Kick-off 7:05pm (AEST).
The game is scheduled to be played at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, however could be shifted to Sydney’s Stadium Australia following the Bulldogs-Rabbitohs clash, if Brisbane cannot travel to Melbourne.
Storm recruiters first spotted Welch playing in the centres at the 2011 Brisbane rugby union state championships.
The following year, Welch was convinced by Storm recruiters to switch codes and join our development program.
Storm recruitment manager Paul Bunn at the time said,
“We asked the coaches (at Easts) to play him in the back row instead of the centres. In our mind we had it as a bit of an experiment, we wanted to turn him into a front rower. The theory was that there was not too many big guys in that age group who played in the front row and had a bit of leg speed.”
Welch went on to make his NRL debut in 2015 for the Storm, and has since achieved the following:
- 2016 NRL Grand Final Grand Finalists;
- 2018 World Club Challenge Winners;
- 2018 NRL Grand Final Grand Finalists;
- 2019 State of Origin series Debut (Game III);
- 2020 NRL Grand Final Premiers; and
- 2020 State of Origin series Champions.
You can hear more from Welch ahead of his 100th NRL game here:
We wish you all the best Welchy!
