Melbourne Storm 2026 season preview
2025 recap
The Storm made it back-to-back Grand Final losses in 2025, but their remarkable consistency is what most clubs can only dream of.
They finished runners-up in the regular season to the Raiders, and their Grand Final appearance was their 12th in the NRL era, which is a long way ahead of anyone else.
2025 position: 2nd (Grand Final runners-up)
Key signings
Manaia Waitere (Canberra Raiders), Jack Hetherington (Newcastle Knights), Trent Toelau (Penrith Panthers), Davvy Moale (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Key departures
Bronson Garlick (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Grant Anderson (Brisbane Broncos), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Released), Dean Ieremia (Released), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Released), Jonah Pezet (Parramatta Eels)
Players to watch
With Ryan Papenhuyzen leaving, Sua Fa’alogo will get first crack at the number one jersey this year. The 22-year-old has looked good when filling in during his three years and 22 appearances in the NRL, but taking over from one of the sport’s premier fullbacks of the past few years is another thing entirely.
Davvy Moale’s arrival from South Sydney has gone largely unntoiced, but he could be a great pick-up for Melbourne. The 22-year-old has already played 70 games at NRL level, and with Nelson Asofa-Solomona now gone, there’s a giant hole waiting to be filled.
Young gun
19-year-old Hugo Peel will be pushing for his NRL debut this year. The fullback was a standout in the Storm’s 2025 Jersey Flegg Premiership-winning side, and if Fa’alogo shows any signs of feeling the pressure as the new number one, he’ll be ready to jump straight in.
Our prediction – 4th
On paper, this is the weakest Melbourne have looked for a long time, but there’s something about them that convinces me they’ll do ok this year. I don’t see them winning the Premiership, but I think they’ll comfortably make the top eight, and I’m still tipping them for top four as well. Maybe it’s the Craig Bellamy effect, but there’s just something about the Storm.
