Melbourne Storm 2025 NRL season scouting report: Best 17, every player’s contract status, rookie watch
Melbourne have only gotten stronger from their grand final defeat in 2024 and you’d be foolish to bet against them. MATT ENCARNACION analyses their best 17, rookies to watch, issues facing the club and more.
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Melbourne are outright favourites to avenge their grand final defeat – and with good reason.
They’re essentially running it back with the same squad that went down to Penrith, but adding the suspended Nelson Asofa-Solomona and new recruit Stefano Utoikamanu.
It’s only a tricky State of Origin period – this time with coach Craig Bellamy serving as Laurie Daley’s right-hand man for NSW – that could prove a hurdle for the heavyweights.
Matt Encarnacion peers into what’s head for the Storm in 2025.
Free agency wrap
The signature of Stefano Utoikamanu gives the Storm forward pack what they’ve missed since the departure of Jesse Bromwich: a play-one front-rower on the doorstep of his prime. The former State of Origin prop will be tasked with being the leader of a front row rotation badly needing an equal injection of experience, power and poise. All of a sudden a one-two punch of Utoikamanu and Nelson Asofa-Solomona form a lethal knockout combination.
Elsewhere, the Storm are also bullish on rugby sevens convert Moses Leo following the overwhelming success of winger Will Warbrick. Doesn’t have the aerial threat but owns the hip drive that makes him hard to tackle. The losses of Reimis Smith, Young Tonumaipea and Aaron Pene were superfluous, while the crucial re-signing of Ryan Papenhuyzen cemented their title aspirations. Going forward, the focus now turns to reliable prop Josh King and in-demand playmaker Jonah Pezet.
RATING: A
Coach status and safety rating
Bellamy will enter year No.24 with a 69 per cent winning rate – the best of any NRL coach with at least 60 games. He took out the Coach of the Year award for the seventh time of his career last season. The man is arguably the best coach to have carried a clipboard. So the equation is simple: It’s Bellamy’s job for as long as he wants it.
But after leading his team to the minor premiership last year, he will no doubt be stinging from their grand final loss to Penrith and won’t be able to walk away from going one step further. Not with a roster that’s the envy of the competition.
For the fourth year in a row, Bellamy will have to make an early call on whether to exercise the option on the fifth and final year of his current deal for 2026. However with the all-important spine of Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant all locked in long-term, as well as future fullback Sua Fa’alogo, all signs point to the Bellamy era extending to a 25th season in 2026.
SAFETY RATING: A+
Likely debutant(s)
There’s a 21-year-old that turned some heads at the Brisbane Tigers this year by the name of Coby Williamson, a product out of Central Queensland. The Melbourne Storm Academy winger had a strong campaign in the Queensland Cup, where he scored 12 tries in 17 games, averaging 135 metres a contest. Craig Bellamy has a seemingly settled backline, but injuries or Origin could open a path for a talented youngster that will enjoy his first pre-season with the NRL squad.
Who takes the next step
Jack Howarth’s transformation from budding second-rower to destructive centre seemingly happened overnight. But the reality is since penning a mammoth five-year deal in January, 2022, he didn’t make his debut until August 2023, and added only three more over the first 15 rounds in 2024. That all changed in Rd 16 – his first game in the centres.
He went on to crack the 100-metre mark in all but one of his 11 games thereafter, with an average of 139 metres per game. He then upped his game further for the finals, averaging 151 metres and five tackle busts in their three games, scattering opposition defences and whacking would-be attackers who dared veer his way.
If he stays on the same trajectory, and with another pre-season under the assuredness of a starting spot, the path is clear for the aggressive 22-year-old to join the elite centres in the game and possibly enter State of Origin calculations for Queensland.
THREE BURNING ISSUES
The Origin period
The Storm could lose up to six or seven players to the Origin period, including a possible three members of their spine. However, for the first time in 15 years, they’ll also lose their coach and football manager for large portions of the Origin campaign. That’s a lot of manpower and brains trust that won’t be in Melbourne during a crucial time of the season. Might be a good time to get an early look at the post-Bellamy transition plan, which could include current assistants Marc Brentnall and Aaron Bellamy.
First world problems
The re-signing of both Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jonah Pezet means the Storm now have a playmaking depth that is the envy of the competition. Back-up fullback Sua Fa’alogo will continue his apprenticeship with another four years left on his deal, while Pezet will shadow both Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes also bolstered with four years on his new contract. How the Storm keep both highly-rated youngsters, along with the versatile Tyran Wishart, happy and content with minor roles could be key to their long-term future.
Forward play
One of the lasting memories from their grand final defeat was how their forward pack were monstered by the Panthers’ big men. Eliesa Katoa was the only forward to crack the 100-metre mark. In fact, Katoa was the only forward to average triple figures over the entire season. However, throw in the suspended Nelson Asofa-Solomona and new recruit Stefano Utoikamanu into that grand final line-up and it’s a whole new ball game. All of a sudden their bench could look like this for Round 1: Tyran Wishart, Christian Welch, Tui Kamikamica and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Crystal ball
Consider this: The Storm will be adding a State of Origin prop and New Zealand international forward to the one that fell short against Penrith in the grand final. They have the best spine in the competition, two towering wingers, and the reigning Dally M Player of the Year. Anything other than another shot at the title will be an abject disappointment.
2025 odds
Winners: $3.75
Minor premiership: $4
Top 4: $1.50
Top 8: $1.12
Most losses: $251
*Odds courtesy of TAB
Originally published as Melbourne Storm 2025 NRL season scouting report: Best 17, every player’s contract status, rookie watch
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