Melbourne Storm 2025 Season: First 13 Rounds
Pre-Season & Season Opener
Pre-Season Challenge Squad
Coach Mark Russell led a 26-player squad against the Canberra Raiders at Seiffert Oval. The lineup featured fullback Hugo Peel, wingers Luke Cesari and Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown, centres Marion Seve and Moses Leo, and halves Eli Morris and Jordan Hamlin. New signings Davvy Moale and Jack Hetherington joined the forward pack alongside Gabriel Satrick, Ativalu Lisati, Cooper Clarke, and Trent Loiero. The bench comprised NSW Cup, development, and academy players. A second pre-season match followed against the Gold Coast Titans on February 21.
Round 1: Melbourne Storm 52 – 4 Parramatta Eels
The Storm extended Coach Craig Bellamy’s round-one winning streak to 23 consecutive years.
Match Details:
- Nine tries scored by the Storm
- Parramatta scored first through Sean Russell (4th minute)
- J’maine Hopgood sin-binned early
- Storm led 18-4 at half-time, adding six tries in the second half
- Jahrome Hughes: three try assists
- Harry Grant: two tries
- Sualauvi Fa’alogo: two tries
Round 1 Lineup:
- Fullback: Sua Fa’alogo
- Wingers: Will Warbrick, Nick Meaney
- Centres: Jack Howarth, Moses Leo
- Halves: Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes (vice-captains)
- Hooker: Harry Grant (captain)
- Front-row: Stefano Utoikamanu, Josh King
- Edges: Joe Chan, Ativalu Lisati
- Lock: Alec MacDonald
- Bench: Cooper Clarke, Preston Conn, Davvy Moale (all potential debutants)
- Extended Reserves: Lazarus Vaalepu, Angus Hinchey, Trent Toelau
Unavailable Players:
- Ryan Papenhuyzen (retired)
- Nelson Asofa-Solomona (unavailable)
- Troy Pezet (unavailable)
- Xavier Coates (injured)
- Shawn Blore (injured)
- Jack Hetherington (suspended)
- Trent Loiero (suspended)
Player Notes:
- Cooper Clarke and Preston Conn were set for NRL debuts from the bench
- Moses Leo played his third NRL match in the centres
- Davvy Moale joined from South Sydney Rabbitohs
Round 2: Storm Lead Dolphins 6-0 (Match in Progress)
Storm Round 2 Lineup:
Sualauvi Faalogo, William Warbrick, Jack Howarth, Nick Meaney, Hugo Peel, Cameron Munster, Tyran Wishart, Stefano Utoikamanu, Harry Grant, Josh King, Shawn Blore, Ativalu Lisati, Trent Loiero
Bench: Trent Toelau, Joe Chan, Davvy Moale, Cooper Clarke, Manaia Waitere, Josiah Pahulu
Round 5: Squad for Penrith Panthers Match
Coach Craig Bellamy finalized changes for the match at CommBank Stadium:
- Nick Meaney returned to centre
- Manaia Waitere made his first NRL start at centre (replacing Jack Howarth, hip injury)
- Cooper Clarke started, replacing Alec MacDonald
- Captain Harry Grant played his 110th Storm match
- Interchange: Tyran Wishart, Davvy Moale, Jack Hetherington, Alec MacDonald
- Kick-off: 8 PM (Channel 9, Fox Sports)
Round 8 (ANZAC Round): Squad for South Sydney Rabbitohs Match
Storm confirmed an unchanged starting lineup from Round 7.
Lineup:
- Sualauvi Faalogo
- William Warbrick
- Jack Howarth
- Nick Meaney
- Manaia Waitere (wing)
- Cameron Munster
- Jahrome Hughes
- Stefano Utoikamanu
- Harry Grant (captain, hooker)
- Josh King
- Joe Chan
- Cooper Clarke (second-row)
- Trent Loiero
- Tyran Wishart
- Alec MacDonald
- Shawn Blore
- Davvy Moale
- Hugo Peel
- Trent Toelau
- Josiah Pahulu
Player Milestones & Notes:
- Shawn Blore set to make his 50th Storm appearance from the bench
- Jack Hetherington in line for his 100th NRL game
- Hugo Peel a candidate for NRL debut
- The Spirit of ANZAC Medal to be awarded post-match
Rabbitohs Round 8 Lineup:
- Matthew Dufty
- Alex Johnston
- Latrell Mitchell
- Jack Wighton
- Campbell Graham
- Cody Walker
- Jamie Humphreys
- Tevita Tatola
- Bronson Garlick
- Sean Keppie
- Brandon Smith
- Tallis Duncan
- Cameron Murray
- Peter Mamouzelos
- Lachlan Hubner
- Jayden Sullivan
- Keaon Koloamatangi
- Euan Aitken
- Liam Le Blanc
- Edward Kosi
Round 10: Squad for Wests Tigers Match
Jahrome Hughes confirmed to return from concussion in the starting side.
Key Notes:
- Potential debutant utility Stanley Huen named on the bench
- Jack Hetherington in contention to play his 100th NRL game
Round 13: Squad for Sydney Roosters Match
The Storm confirmed changes for the match at AAMI Park:
Key Changes:
- Harry Grant moved to interchange; Trent Toelau started at hooker
- Cooper Clarke entered the starting forward pack; Alec MacDonald shifted to bench
- Cameron Munster started at five-eighth; Trent Loiero at lock
- Josiah Pahulu a potential debutant off the bench
- Jack Hetherington in line for his 100th NRL game
The game was dedicated to the Starlight Children's Foundation, marking 10 years of partnership with the Storm.