Will Warbrick to play 50th NRL game in Storm round 1 clash against Eels
As a teenager, Will Warbrick aspired to play in the AFL for St Kilda. Instead, he went on to win an Olympic medal before joining the Storm, where he’ll notch his 50th game this weekend.
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From aspiring AFL footballer to Olympic silver medallist and now, a 50-game NRL player.
Melbourne Storm winger Will Warbrick hasn’t had the typical journey to this milestone – which he’ll notch on March 9, when his club hosts the Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park to launch their 2025 season. And the 27-year-old doesn’t take the achievement for granted.
“(Getting here) came with its challenges,” he said. “The Storm coaches gave me the belief I needed at the start, probably at times when I didn’t believe in myself.
“The players also made me feel really welcome and part of the group, even before I played an NRL game.
“It’s not the biggest milestone, but for me personally, it’s something I take with great appreciation and gratitude, especially with my journey.”
Born and raised in New Zealand, Warbrick played Aussie rules for the country’s under-18s side and aspired to follow a pathway that was in place for AFL NZ players to the St Kilda Football Club.
He instead found himself at the Tokyo Olympics a few years later, with a rugby sevens silver medal around his neck as part an All Black Sevens side that fell to Fiji in the gold-medal match.
The Storm had Warbrick on its radar even before this achievement. He signed with the all-conquering club after the Games and made his NRL debut against the Eels in round 1, 2023.
The talented code-crosser was the club’s top try scorer that year, with 17. He also earned an NRL Dally M Rookie of the Year nomination, and was named Storm Rookie and Back of the Year.
Warbrick hopes the stands of AAMI Park will be packed for his milestone game – especially with no AFL being played in Melbourne this weekend.
“We definitely feel it when the fans are out in force, it gives us an extra lift of energy,” he said.
“We’ve had a tough pre-season, all the boys are ready to play now.”
Despite the Storm being widely considered premiership favourites this season, and coming off a devastating grand final loss to Penrith last year, Warbrick said he and his teammates were “not thinking too far ahead or staying stuck in the past”.
“We can’t be worried about who’s going to win the premiership – we’ve got round one against a big opponent,” he said.
“We’ve definitely got goals for this year, but we’re focused firstly on this weekend.”
Storm sponsor RedZed will give away rally towels to 15,000 fans at the Eels match, plus $5000 to one lucky attendee who will be revealed at half time.
Originally published as Will Warbrick to play 50th NRL game in Storm round 1 clash against Eels
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