NRL Grand Final 2020: Melbourne Storm stars make most of hub, start collectables trading card venture

After turning the hobby into a boom NBA trading card empire, the Storm quartet behind Four Point Collectables wants to gear the market towards the NRL from next season. Under their 4P banner, Sandor Earl, Jahrome Hughes, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Kenny Bromwich have formed a legion of like-minded NBA fans tuning into live “box breaks” streams up to four times a week. Catch Fox League’s Grand Final Week coverage on Kayo. Stream all the latest news and insight right up until kick off plus half-time and full-time analysis from the Fox League commentary team. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly > NRL NEWS The seven secret pillars in Storm scouting system Four-pronged plan for stopping Smith Why father of all expectation could sink Storm How Storm triggered Panthers star’s crippling anxiety The slots vary in prices, from $60, depending on the brand of unopened cards. Slotholders are linked to an NBA team(s) in the break and keep any correlated cards. “If you look at the NBA, imagine if four NBA players were live every night talking to people and breaking cards?” Earl said. “It’s a really cool way to bridge the gap between fans and players and again, cards just happen to be the vehicle for that.” Hughes pulled a $45,000 Ja Morant “rookie patch auto” for a Newcastle-based slotholder recently. The man, who drove to Sunshine Coast that night to collect the card from reception at Twin Waters, has since on-sold the prized parcel to a buyer in the US. “These cards are the stock market for a player,” Earl said. “You could have fluctuations where a Tyler Herro (Miami Heat NBA rookie) can go out and have a 30-point game and all of a sudden his card prices will go up 250 per cent. “It’s a really cool concept that can be applied to any sport.” Signed NBA rookie cards – released in the player’s first season – with built-in game-used elements (pieces of a jersey, draft day hat or even a shoe) are the most coveted. While nowhere near as popular, prices of NRL cards can be just as turbulent. The secondary market, like eBay and hardcore Facebook-based trading groups, has a suite of Storm-related listings from $1 to four-figure sums. Savvy investors holding the 2020 NRL Elite Papenhuyzen card, listed at $175, will be banking on the fullback to rip Sunday’s grand final apart. A premiership would see the price skyrocket, compared to the neutral response of a loss. The foray into cards has connected the Storm stars with other NRL players through the “Card Gang”, a private WhatsApp group, with 15-odd members including Kalyn Ponga, Andrew Fifita and Adam Reynolds. Collaborations with NBA card retailers and acclaimed designer Tyson Beck has Earl and company excited about potential for NRL player-driven projects. “You can imagine it’s a bit of a dream combination when you’ve got actual NRL players interested and pushing it,” Earl said. The group has invested their own hard-earned in blue-chip and speculative cards. “We’re definitely pretty deep in the game, in that respect,” Earl said. “I really like (Chicago Bulls guard) Coby White, Jahrome is a big Wizards fan so he‘s banking on Rui Hachimura … it adds a pretty cool dimension to watching the live sport.” It is hoped pricey Zion Williamson, the “next” LeBron James, might surge next year, while NBA top draft prospect LaMelo Ball — given the Australian connection — will be high on all shopping lists. Earl added a “nostalgic play” to his private collection recently, buying his own rookie card for $60. Getting all the product and equipment to Melbourne is the next issue, after four months of stockpiling in Earl’s room — the 4P break studio, warehouse and mailroom. “Houston (Wade, Storm operations coordinator) has organised a big truck (for all the teams’ gear), I’ve said I’m going to need a fair allocation in that,” Earl said. “As much as it has been frustrating for us (in the hub), it’s (cards hobby) probably been a bit of a blessing.”

NRL Grand Final 2020: Melbourne Storm stars make most of hub, start collectables trading card venture

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