NRL Market Watch: Melbourne Storm takes highly touted fullback Sua Faalogo off the market

The Melbourne Storm are set to deliver a hammer blow to rivals over rising star Sua Faalogo, just weeks before he is due to hit the open market. Latest NRL Market Watch.

Keaon Koloamatangi of the Rabbitohs. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

Melbourne will close a loophole to keep Sua Faalogo away from rival NRL clubs as the exciting young backline talent prepares to make his international debut for Samoa.

Faalogo’s scintillating NRL debut for the Storm in round 27 announced the 20-year-old as a star on the rise, and further alerted clubs to his potential.

He is due to hit the market on November 1, but Melbourne will exercise an option in his contract to lock in Faalogo until at least the end of 2025.

Faalogo, who is due to line up for Samoa against Australia in Townsville on Saturday, is contracted until the end of 2024 but the club has an option in its favour for the following season.

The Storm confirmed that option would “definitely be exercised” and that the youngster would be elevated into the club’s top-30 roster from next season, a year ahead of schedule.

Melbourne and Samoa youngster Sua Faalogo scores on debut. Picture: NRL

Even if Faalogo had hit the market, the rookie had no intention of entertaining offers from rival outfits.

“I’m just so grateful for the Melbourne Storm for giving me the opportunity and the opportunity to debut,” Faalogo said. “I never thought I would get a game this year but I got lucky. I’m so grateful to be in a system as good as the Storm so I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Despite first-choice fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen also being signed until the end of 2025, Melbourne has made Faalogo, a rare Victorian product, a long-term retention priority.

Coach Craig Bellamy had kept the prospect under wraps, resisting the temptation to blood the rookie, before eventually handing him a debut off the bench against the Broncos in August.

Faalogo sealed victory for the Storm with a superb show-and-go, burning Brisbane defenders for pace to score.

But it was Faalogo’s first try that laid bare the extent of the local junior’s electrifying talent, torching Brisbane’s defence with a 70-metre break with Papenhuyzen in support.

“It was a crazy feeling. I’m still thinking about it now,” Faalogo said.

“That moment made my debut, having Paps right there with me and him giving me that try. I made the break and a look over to my right and I saw Paps in support and I gave it to him.

“I thought he was going to take it, but he turned around and passed it back to me. I couldn’t believe it.”

Faalogo’s speed, footwork and silky hands has already drawn comparisons with Broncos whiz-kid Reece Walsh and even Storm great Billy Slater, who is considered one of the greatest fullbacks of all time.

Slater, a specialist Storm coach, has been working closely with Faalogo during his rise through the ranks.

Sua Faalogo Start of NRL Storm season. Players at training. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Having Billy come in to help us, he’s always had time for me whenever I have ever needed tips or advice,” Faalogo said.

“He’s always said to me that I can be anything, that I’m in control but also to be true to myself. I need to work hard and grab any opportunity I get with both hands.

“But I’m lucky I’ve had Paps there also and I have been learning off him, even when he was injured he was there if I needed him. I still think it’s crazy that I get to train with him.

“Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am with my footy at the moment.”

A fit Papenhuyzen is likely to keep Faalogo out of the starting fullback role but a utility spot from the bench, or in the outside backs, is shaping as an option for Bellamy.

The extent of Faalogo’s versatility will be on display during the Pacific Championship.

Penrith centre Stephen Crichton will get the first crack at the No.1 jumper, with Faalogo likely to start against Australia from the bench this weekend in Townsville.

But with Samoa short on playmakers, coach Ben Gardner will consider using Crichton at five-eighth paving the way for Faalogo to start at fullback. Gardner is also likely to use Faalogo in the outside backs.

Like Crichton, Faalogo has committed his international career to Samoa.

“I don’t think I would chose anyone other than Toa Samoa, that’s who I want to play for,” Faalogo said. “When you see guys like Stephen Crichton here, and they want to represent Samoa. For us, it’s not about the money, it’s about our culture. We love representing our people, our country and where are our parents from.”

THREE-WAY RACE FOR ORIGIN FORWARD

South Sydney star Keaon Koloamatangi doesn’t want to drag out a decision on his future but the Tongan international is poised to be at the centre of a bidding war from November 1.

Koloamatangi will hit the open market in just over three weeks and already rivals Canberra and St George Illawarra are expected to make plays for the 25-year-old.

Koloamatangi’s manager Tyran Smith is in talks with the Rabbitohs about an extension beyond 2024.

The NSW Blues forward told this masthead a call on his future will be made when he returns from Tonga’s three-game Test tour of England, with the last game of the series played on November 4.

“My manager has been doing that, he knows that I have been going away touring, so I’m letting him do all that (extension talks),” Koloamatangi said.

“Me and my manager Ty, we have a great relationship, he’s been my manager since I was 15 so I trust him with my life. I know he’ll do the best for me.

“I’ll probably make a decision when I come back from England.”

Keaon Koloamatangi is hot property. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

The Rabbitohs have already locked in key players Cameron Murray (2028), Latrell Mitchell (2027), Campbell Graham (2027), Tevita Tatola (2028) and Jack Wighton (2027) long term. Koloamatangi is hopeful his name can be added to that list.

“I obviously haven’t spoken to anyone, at this stage I’m not allowed to speak to anyone until November 1.

“Hopefully we can sort something out with the Rabbitohs, but if not, it is what it is. We’ll see how things go when I’m back.”

Koloamatangi was as popular at Sunday’s joint Tonga and Samoa community fan day at Redcliffe as he’s likely to be on the open market.

The Tongan squad will fly to the UK later this week ahead of the pacific nation’s first stand-alone tour of England, which will include games at Totally Wicked Stadium October 22 before matches at Huddersfield on October 28 and Leeds on November 4.

“It’s a history-making moment for Tongan rugby league and it shows how much since 2017 when Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita committed to Tonga, it started a movement,” Koloamatangi said.

“Everyone wanted to play for their nation and their heritage.

Keaon Koloamatangi with fans at Sunday's Tonga and Samoa fan day.

“It’s great for rugby league in general. Just about every World Cup until recently has been dominated by either Australia, New Zealand or England. It’s got to see the rise of Tonga and Samoa because they have the talent.”

Tonga bowed out of last year’s World Cup in the quarterfinals at the hands of Samoa, who ultimately went down in the final to Australia.

The rise of the pacific nations on the international stage has been propped up by an increasing number of elite stars eligible for tier-one nations opting to represent their country of heritage instead.

Koloamatangi believes that commitment will see a tier-two nation win the World Cup sooner rather than later.

“The NRL is now 60 per cent Polynesian so it’s great to see those players wanting to represent their roots and where their parents are from,” Koloamatangi said.

“Their parents came to Australia to give their kids a better opportunity and it’s great to see these young players giving back to their family.

“This is only the start. It’s only a matter of time before one of the Polynesian countries takes out the World Cup and dominates on the world stage.”