2025 Melbourne Storm season
2025 Melbourne Storm season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team information | ||||
CEO | Justin Rodski | |||
Coach | Craig Bellamy | |||
Captain | ||||
Stadium | AAMI Park – 30,050 | |||
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The 2025 Melbourne Storm season is the 28th in the club's history, competing in the 2025 NRL season. The team is coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching the club for a 23rd consecutive season. Harry Grant continues as club captain for a second season.
Season summary
[edit]- Preseason – Joining the club on train and trial contracts ahead of the season were players from the Storm academy (Coby Williamson, Mitch Jennings); Sunshine Coast Falcons (Josh Billing, Cooper-Page Wilson); Brisbane Tigers (Vaka Sikahele, Setu Tu); and North Sydney Bears (Nathaniel Roache, Morgan Harper, Ben Talty)[1]
- 9 February – Harry Grant was reappointed captain, with Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster appointed as vice-captains. The club named a seven-man leadership group, with a number of other players named to an emerging leader group.[2]
- 11 February – It was reported that former captain Christian Welch could be contemplating medical retirement after suffering a concussion during the club's preseason training camp. Welch had been given time away from the club to recover and was absent from a number of team activities.[3]
- 12 February – Christian Welch announced his retirement from rugby league effective immediately. Welch retired on medical grounds due to a debilitating back injury.[4][5][6]
Fixtures
[edit]Pre-season Challenge
[edit]Source:[7]
Date | Rd | Opponent | Venue | Result | Mel. | Opp. | Tries | Goals | Field goals | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 February | Trial | New Zealand Warriors | FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton | Lost | 10 | 36 | K Bradley, B Talty | E Morris 1/1, K Russell-Smith 0/1 | [8] | |
23 February | Trial | North Queensland Cowboys | Casey Fields, Melbourne |
Regular season
[edit]Result by round
[edit]Matches
[edit]Source:[9]
- (g.p.) – Golden Point extra time
- (pen) – Penalty try
Ladder
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to finals series |
2 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
4 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
5 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
6 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
7 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
8 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
9 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
10 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
11 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
12 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
13 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
14 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
15 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
16 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
17 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Coaching staff
[edit]- Craig Bellamy – Head Coach[10]
- Marc Brentnall – Assistant Coach
- Aaron Bellamy – Assistant Coach
- Ryan Hinchcliffe – Assistant Coach
- Todd Lowrie – Development Coach[11][12]
2025 squad
[edit]List current as of 17 January 2025[13]
Player movements
[edit]
Losses
|
Gains
|
Representative honours
[edit]This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2025.
- (C) = Captain
- (vc) = Vice-captain
Player | NRL All Star match | State of Origin 1 | State of Origin 2 | State of Origin 3 | Internationals/Pacific Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Will Warbrick[25] | Māori | — | — | — | — |
Jerseys
[edit]In November 2023, Melbourne Storm announced a new sponsorship and apparel partnership agreement with Irish sportswear company O'Neills.[26]
- Home
As part of the NRL's two year jersey cycle, the 2025 home jersey is the same as the 2024 version originally revealed in November 2023.[27] The jersey is navy blue with a purple yoke and sleeves. There are bright yellow lightning bolt designs on the side panels, and a revised Big V logo at the top of the rear of the jersey as a continuation of the Our Home, Victoria acknowledgment which began during the 2020 season to honour Storm's home state. This jersey will be worn with navy blue shorts and socks.
- Away
As with the home jersey, the away jersey is the same as what was worn during the 2024 season. It is worn when the home jersey creates a clash with the opposition, and is a similar design to the home jersey, with white replacing the navy blue base colour. This jersey is worn with purple shorts, with white socks.
Junior Representatives
[edit]The club entered teams in the 2025 New South Wales Rugby League junior representative competitions with the following coaching staff:
- Jersey Flegg Cup (Under-21s): Mark Russell (coach), Nate Myles (assistant)
- S.G. Ball Cup (Under-19s): Matt Duffie (coach), Justin O'Neill (assistant)
- Harold Matthews Cup (Under-17s): Tony Adam (coach)
The club's academy program had Tim Auremi as Pathways Operations Manager and Dean Benton as Pathways Performance Manager.[19]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Previous First Grade RL club: This column denotes the previous RL club the player was signed to and played first grade RL for. If they are yet to debut then this is stipulated. If they were merely signed to the club but did not play then it is not counted
- ^ Lewis took up a coaching role at the Canberra Raiders.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ Read, Brent; Meyn, Travis; Carayannis, Michael (25 November 2024). "Every NRL club's train and trial players heading in to the 2025 pre-season". Code Sports. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Storm confirm 2025 leadership group". melbournestorm.com.au. 9 February 2025. Archived from the original on 10 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ Hooper, James (11 February 2025). "Christian Welch's NRL future in doubt after latest blow as Storm consider $600k move". foxsports.com.au. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Welch announces immediate retirement". melbournestorm.com.au. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ a b Talintyre, Ben (12 February 2025). "Storm star Christian Welch announces retirement as secret debilitating back injury revealed". news.com.au. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ a b Brunsdon, Simon (12 February 2025). "Former Origin star Christian Welch retires on eve of NRL season after mystery Storm team photo absence". Nine's Wide World of Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ "NRL 2025 Melbourne Storm Pre-season Challenge Draw". Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Witzer Pre-Season Challenge - Round 2". NRL.com. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ "NRL 2025 Melbourne Storm Draw". Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Storm announce 2019 Football department structure". 5 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ "Lowrie to return to Storm". melbournestorm.com.au. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ Callinan, Josh (3 November 2022). "Former NRL player Todd Lowrie joins Melbourne Storm coaching staff for 2023". Australian Community Media. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "2024 NRL Signings Tracker: Updated squads as new season begins". NRL.com. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ "NRL Signings Tracker". NRL.com. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Naghten, Tom (20 November 2024). "Which players are leaving the Melbourne Storm? Full 2024 departures and arrivals lists". The Sporting News. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ Chalk, Ethan Lee (2 December 2024). "Dragons sign former Melbourne Storm fullback". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ Chalk, Ethan Lee (26 November 2024). "Retired Storm forward lands assistant coaching gig for rival NRL team". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Chalk, Ethan Lee (5 November 2024). "Ex-Storm forward joins new NRL team". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ a b "More local players and staff join Storm Pathways". melbournestorm.com.au. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Stefano Utoikamanu leaves Wests Tigers for Melbourne Storm in three-year deal". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "Utoikamanu joins Melbourne Storm". melbournestorm.com.au. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "Stefano Utoikamanu inks 3 year Storm deal". espn.com.au. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "Moses Leo to join Storm early". melbournestorm.com.au. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Mayne, Joshua (19 November 2024). "Olympian confirmed to join Melbourne Storm early". The Sporting News. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "2025 Harvey Norman All Stars teams". NRL.com. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ "Storm joins forces with O'Neills". melbournestorm.com.au. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Melbourne Storm unveils 2024 kit". melbournestorm.com.au. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.