Melbourne Storm season preview with Craig Bellamy, Harry Grant and Cameron Munster

In the six months since Melbourne’s grand final loss, coach Craig Bellamy has relived the night. He takes the lessons and attempts to be better. More often than not, he is – and that’s why the Storm start the season as favourites.

It will come as a surprise to no one, but Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy isn’t much of a television guy.

Aside from the occasional Seinfeld rerun, any time in front of a screen is spent reviewing NRL games and meticulously studying the opposition.

In the six months since a 16-4 loss in last year’s grand final, he’s relived the uncomfortable viewing experience of watching his team steamrolled by a Penrith juggernaut.

He takes the lessons, applies them, and attempts to be better.

More often than not, he is. And therefore, so is Melbourne.

“It’s certainly hard work sitting through it but you need to learn from that,” Bellamy says ahead of the 2025 season opener against Parramatta.

“Some guys you’ve got to give a rap on, what they did last year to make a grand final. It’s not easy. We just fell over at the last hurdle.

“We did a review of it when we came back and then put it to bed. We’ve got to get on with this year.”

That’s just what they’ll do.

In a wide-ranging interview with Bellamy, captain Harry Grant and star five-eighth Cameron Munster, the trio discuss bouncing back from grand final heartbreak, the addition of Stefano Utoikamanu and facing ex-assistant Jason Ryles for the first time on Sunday.

Craig Bellamy, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant open up about the Storm's pre-season.

BIG ADDITION

Melbourne start the season as favourites with fans and bookmakers.

They haven’t lost any big names, but have added representative prop Stefano Utoikamanu from Wests Tigers to their stable side for 2025.

“Football-wise and personnel-wise he’s settled in really well, and his family has been a real joy to have around to place,” Bellamy says of the 24-year-old former NSW prop brimming with potential.

“For a big guy he’s got a good work rate and he’s very mobile.

“Sometimes you’ll have guys in his position, they’re big, strong, powerful, but they mightn’t be able to play as long minutes as other guys but he seems to have a little bit of both, he’s got endurance and speed and power as well.”

Stefano Utoikamanu is a big addition to the Storm’s forward pack. Picture: David Geraghty

Nelson Asofa-Solomona is also set to return to the field in round 3 in the grand final rematch against Penrith.

His power upfront was desperately missed in the decider.

They were beaten upfront, Penrith rolling through the middle with 300 running metres more than Melbourne, as well as 100 metres more post contact.

It’s the most obvious fix for 2025.

“Nelson is a bit of a unicorn with what he can do on a football field, not many players can do that,” Munster says.

“I’m always optimistic (about winning a premiership), this year we’ve gained forward power in Stefano, but in saying that we can’t rest on having one player coming in and helping us out, we’ve got to make sure we work really hard this year on our game, we can’t afford to expect things will happen.

“We have a great squad but names on paper aren’t going to get you the results.”

MUNSTER’S AMBITION

Munster’s pursuit of success has been ramped up another notch as he admits it could take up to a year for his hips to return to their full function.

The Queensland star lost around six kilograms on a strict diet, so determined is he to make up for a tough season in 2024 that ended with surgery on both hips.

Cameron Munster will be praying for a season uninterrupted by injury. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

“He’s been a valuable member of the team for ages, we didn’t mention it to him at the club, we were quite happy with where he was, but he’s gone out on a journey with trying to lose a little bit of weight, he’s been very strict on his diet, he brings in his breakfast and lunch. It’s a little bit different to the menu he’s used to,” Bellamy says.

“He’s lost a few kilos, which is what he wanted to do, the hip surgery pulled him up a little bit but it was important for him to get done and he’s expecting a big year for himself and so are we.”

After passing his first big test in the club’s second trial game, Munster is ready for round 1.

“I’m doing lots of glute work to get the activation going, It’s going to take some time, it could be another year or so for them to come fully good. That comes with surgery,” he says.

“It can take time to heal, it’s been all opened up. I’m about 20 weeks post-op, and as much as I feel good, I’ve got to be mindful that it’s still early in the process.

“I feel sharp on my feet, last year I was probably carrying a few kilos and it probably showed when the team needed me, so I want to make sure I’m fit enough to be in those moments all game.”

The 30-year-old played just 17 games last year, which is the lowest in a season for Melbourne since his lone debut game in 2014.

“It was my first major surgery and I’m 30 so that’s pretty good,” he says the father of three.

“It’s just been getting the body back together, I couldn’t run for 14 or 15 weeks, and for someone like me who has a little bit of ADHD and can’t sit still, it was very hard to deal with. But the kids kept my mind busy.

“It was still tough, especially when they wanted to play and I couldn’t pick them up or run around with them, so that hit home for me.

“But my body’s feeling good now. I pulled up a little bit sore from (the trials) but I wasn’t expecting to come out and not be sore. I’ll be ready for round 1.”

OLD MATES, NEW FOE

In a stroke of scheduling genius, new Parramatta coach Jason Ryles faces the hardest job in rugby league at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.

The former Storm assistant spent six seasons at the club, but will lead the Eels for the first time against Bellamy who has won his last 22 round 1 games.

It’s a mighty record for Melbourne, and a huge task for a rookie coach.

“I doubt we’ll be talking this week, but I’ll probably catch up for a beer with him after the game,” Bellamy says.

Ryles spend five years with the Storm until 2020, and then returned to help them to last year’s grand final before joining the Eels in his first head coaching job.

“He was here when I first came down and really helped my game, he was coaching the forwards and had a lot of knowledge,” says Grant.

“He’s really helped me with leadership advice last year.

“He’s going to be a great coach. The way he goes about his business, he’s got a presence around an organisation and a playing group, I expect Parra to be a real contender this year.”

Munster agrees, backing Eels to be the dark horse of the season.

“He’s a very funny man but when it comes to being serious about things, he knew his stuff and he was very smart,” he said.

“They’re in good hands. I think they’re a bit of a dark horse this year. People won’t expect a whole heap from them and they’re the dangerous teams you’ve got to watch out for.

“(They’ll be) hard, in the game for the whole 80 minutes, good at the little things.”

Just like Melbourne.