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As part of a series profiling the expected Round 1 sides for all 17 NRL clubs in 2025, it’s time to see if the Melbourne Storm can once again threaten for the trophy.
Craig Bellamy heads into the 2025 season with an air of stability at his club, but also question marks over whether they have the capability of slaying the Panthers beast.
Bellamy will roll out a very similar side to the one that finished runners-up to Penrith last season with the addition of former Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu bolstering their already impressive forward pack.
The Storm were hindered by several serious injuries last season to Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Xavier Coates and Nelson Assofa-Solomona while Jahrome Hughes was carrying an injury during the playoffs which limited his effectiveness as well.
There is no doubt the Storm will once again be one of the teams to beat.
They have depth in all positions and a mix of experience and young guns like Jack Howarth, Trent Loeiro, Eliesa Katoa and Shawn Blore also giving them plenty of strikepower.
The Storm have been very quiet on the signings front with Utoikamanu their only major acquisition. The former Tiger and one-time NSW Origin front rower gives them plenty of size in the middle to complement Asofa-Solomona and Kamikamica.
With former Maroons prop Christian Welch also still a reliable performer up front, Melbourne have one of the best engine rooms in the competition with Test hooker Harry Grant providing the skill.
Stefano Utoikamanu. Photo: Getty Images
The only other signing for the Storm of note is New Zealand Rugby Sevens star Moses Leo who is unlikely to crack the starting side for Round 1 but could be a handy pick-up at centre, wing or fullback in the mould of Will Warbrick.
The Storm have lost a few of their fringe first graders. Reimus Smith left late last season to take up an offer in the Super League, Young Tonumaipea and Chris Lewis have retired, back-up prop Aaron Pene is now at Leigh Leopards and Tepai Moeroa has not been re-signed.
There are very few positions at the Storm that are up for grabs.
Utoikamanu will probably start at prop with Asafa-Solomona reverting to a bench role alongside Kamikamica which suits both of their skill sets.
Tyran Wishart was dynamic last season as a bench utility and is likely to start there again such is the star power of the Storm’s starting line-up.
But if he continues to play the house down like he did last season, Bellamy could try to find a starting spot for him somewhere.
The same applies to Sua Fa’alogo who has shown over the past 12 months that he is more than ready for more regular first-grade action but Papenhuyzen is blocking his path at fullback.
He has also been a potent weapon off the bench. And with Papenhuyzen only re-signing for one more year in 2026, Fa’alogo is being groomed to be his long-term successor at fullback.
1 Ryan Papenhuyzen
2 Will Warbrick
3 Nick Meaney
4 Jack Howarth
5 Xavier Coates
6 Cameron Munster
7 Jahrome Hughes
8 Stefano Utoikamanu
9 Harry Grant
10 Josh King
11 Shawn Blore
12 Eliesa Katoa
13 Trent Loeiro
Interchange
14 Tyran Wishart
15 Tui Kamikamica
16 Christian Welch
17 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Other squad members: Jonah Pezet, Alec Macdonald, Grant Anderson, Lazarus Velepu, Joe Chan, Ativalu Lisati, Bronson Garlick, Moses Leo, Sua Fa’alogo
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