Melbourne Storm 2025 season review

Overview
Highs
Lows
2025 RLB Player of the Year – Eli Katoa
Reasons to be positive in 2026
My 2025 prediction – 1st
Final 2025 position – 2nd (-1)

Overview

It was another case of so near yet so far for the Storm, as they lost a second-straight Grand Final.

It would be unfair to say they coasted through the regular season, but a top four spot always looked likely and they never dropped out of the top eight.

Inconsistency was an issue at times, with the Storm losing seven matches in the regular season, and there were plenty of injuries to key players they had to contend with. All in all though, 2nd place and a Grand Final spot is the sort of year most clubs dream of.

Highs

Melbourne had the second-best defence and the third-best attack in the NRL, so they clearly did a lot right at both ends of the pitch.

Stefano Utoikamanu had an excellent first season in Victoria, Eli Katoa established himself as the game’s best back-rower, and the big guns like Harry Grant and Cameron Munster continued to step up and shine regularly.

On the scoresheet, the Storm scored 40+ points on four occasions, and there was a clean sheet against the Tigers as well.

A pair of eight-point wins in the Finals saw them through to another Premiership decider too, and no club comes close to their 12 Grand Final appearances in the NRL era.

Lows

The Grand Final defeat goes without saying, especially as Melbourne gave up a 10-point lead in the process.

There were some other very un-Melbourne like defeats in 2025 as well, including a 42-22 loss to the Dolphins in Round 7, a 40-10 thrashing at the hands of the Roosters in Round 26, and a 30-14 loss to the Broncos a week later to round off the regular season.

Injuries-wise, Christian Welch was forced into early retirement without playing a game in 2025, while Will Warbrick only managed seven games at the end of the year due to a severe concussion.

2025 RLB Player of the Year – Eli Katoa

The Tonga international has gone from strength to strength in a Storm jersey, and it’s hard to think of a better back-rower in the NRL. 14 tries – including a Grand Final effort – was a great return too.

Reasons to be positive in 2026

Most clubs would be over the moon with a Grand Final appearance and 2nd on the ladder, so Melbourne are at a good starting point heading into 2026.

Coach Craig Bellamy has continued to unearth diamonds, and there’s no reason we won’t see more emerge next year. They’re sprinkled with stardust too, in the shape of Jahrome Hughes, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant.