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2026 Melbourne Storm season

2026 Melbourne Storm season
Team information
CEOJustin Rodski
CoachCraig Bellamy
Captain
StadiumAAMI Park – 30,050
← 2025 List of seasons 2027 →

The 2026 Melbourne Storm season will be the 29th in the club's history, competing in the 2026 NRL season. The team is coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching the club for a 24th consecutive season. Harry Grant continued as club captain for a third season.

The club will also field teams in the New South Wales Rugby League competitions, including women's teams for the first time.

Season summary

  • Preseason – Joining the NRL squad during the preseason were uncapped development players Suli Pole, Angus Hinchey, Preston Conn and Mitchell Jennings.[1]
  • 5 January – It was reported that Melbourne were interested in signing former Parramatta Eels player Zac Lomax who had been conditionally released from his contract following the end of the 2025 season.[2] As part of his conditional release, Lomax could not join another NRL club until the end of the 2028 NRL season.[3]
  • 6 January – Video is published of Eliesa Katoa undertaking a club preseason training session following surgery to relieve pressure on his brain in November 2025. Katoa had been ruled out of returning to the field for the entire 2026 season after suffering three head knocks while on international duty with Tonga.[4]
  • 9 January – Melbourne confirm the impending departures of both Nick Meaney and Tyran Wishart at the end of the 2026 season.[5] Both players had signed with expansion team Perth Bears for their inaugural season in 2027.[6]
  • 13 January – It was reported that club CEO Justin Rodski turned down an approach to become the next CEO of the Essendon Football Club. Rodski had previously been an executive at the AFL club before joining the Storm.[7]
  • 6 February – The club announces that coach Craig Bellamy had signed a contract extension that will see him remain at the club until the end of the 2028 NRL season. Bellamy had previously had a rolling contract with the club as he entered his 24th season as head coach of the Storm, having coached the club in over 600 NRL matches.[8][9][10]
  • 13 February – In their first match of the 2026 NRL Pre-season Challenge, a youthful Storm team captained by Trent Loiero, but missing a host of first grade regulars, struggled against the Canberra Raiders at Queanbeyan's Seiffert Oval, going down 32–6. Melbourne's only try was scored by Liam Williams late in the second half.[11]
  • 20 February – Melbourne confirm that winger Xavier Coates will miss at least the first three months of the season after requiring Achilles tendon surgery. It was the same injury that forced Coates to miss the 2025 Kangaroo tour of England.[12][13]

Fixtures

Pre-season Challenge

Main article: 2026 NRL Pre-season Challenge

Source:[14]

Date Rd Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field goals Ref
13 February Trial Canberra Raiders Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan Lost 6 32 L Williams A Murgha 1/1 [15]
21 February Trial Gold Coast Titans Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast

Regular season

Result by round

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627
GroundHAHAAHAHAHNAHH–HA–HAAHN–HAA
ResultBBB
Position
Points
Source: National Rugby League
A = Away; H = Home; N = Neutral; B = Bye; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Source:[16]

Date Rd Opponent H/A Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field goals Ref
5 March 1 Parramatta Eels H AAMI Park, Melbourne
14 March 2 St George Illawarra Dragons A WIN Stadium, Wollongong
20 March 3[i] Brisbane Broncos H AAMI Park, Melbourne
28 March 4 North Queensland Cowboys A QCB Stadium, Townsville
3 April 5 Penrith Panthers A CommBank Stadium, Sydney
11 April 6 New Zealand Warriors H AAMI Park, Melbourne
17 April 7 Canberra Raiders A GIO Stadium, Canberra
25 April 8[ii] South Sydney Rabbitohs H AAMI Park, Melbourne
1 May 9 Dolphins A Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
10 May 10 Wests Tigers H AAMI Park, Melbourne
16 May 11[iii] Parramatta Eels N Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
22 May 12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs A Accor Stadium, Sydney
30 May 13 Sydney Roosters H AAMI Park, Melbourne
5 June 14 Newcastle Knights H AAMI Park, Melbourne
13 June 15 Bye
21 June 16 Canberra Raiders H AAMI Park, Melbourne
27 June 17 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles A 4 Pines Park, Sydney
4 July 18 Bye
12 July 19 Gold Coast Titans H AAMI Park, Melbourne
17 July 20[iv] Sydney Roosters A Allianz Stadium, Sydney
24 July 21 South Sydney Rabbitohs A Accor Stadium, Sydney
31 July 22 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs H AAMI Park, Melbourne
8 August 23[v] Manly Warringah Sea Eagles N HBF Park, Perth
15 August 24[v] Bye
20 August 25 Penrith Panthers H AAMI Park, Melbourne
27 August 26 Brisbane Broncos A Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
5 September 27 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks A Sharks Stadium, Sydney
Fixture notes:
  1. ^ Multicultural Round
  2. ^ ANZAC Round
  3. ^ Magic Round
  4. ^ Women in League Round
  5. ^ a b Indigenous Round

Ladder

Main article: 2026 NRL season
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Brisbane Broncos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to finals series
2 Canberra Raiders 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Dolphins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Gold Coast Titans 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Melbourne Storm 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Newcastle Knights 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 New Zealand Warriors 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 North Queensland Cowboys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Parramatta Eels 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Penrith Panthers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 St. George Illawarra Dragons 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 Sydney Roosters 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 Wests Tigers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on 31 January 2026. Source: National Rugby League

Coaching staff

2026 squad

List current as of 2 February 2026

Further information: List of Melbourne Storm players
Cap Nat. Player name Position First Storm game Previous First Grade RL club[a]
160 Australia Cameron Munster FE, FB 2014 Australia Melbourne Storm
181 Fiji Tui Kamikamica SR, PR 2017 Australia Melbourne Storm
184 New Zealand Jahrome Hughes FE, HB 2017 Australia North Queensland Cowboys
188 Australia Harry Grant HK 2018 Australia Melbourne Storm
193 Samoa Marion Seve WG 2019 Australia Melbourne Storm
212 Australia Trent Loiero SR 2021 Australia Melbourne Storm
217 Papua New Guinea Xavier Coates WG 2022 Australia Brisbane Broncos
218 Australia Nick Meaney FB 2022 Australia Canterbury Bulldogs
219 Australia Josh King PR 2022 Australia Newcastle Knights
220 Australia Tyran Wishart FE, HK 2022 Australia Melbourne Storm
221 Australia Alec MacDonald LK 2022 Australia Melbourne Storm
225 New Zealand William Warbrick CE, WG 2023 Australia Melbourne Storm
226 Tonga Eliesa Katoa SR 2023 New Zealand New Zealand Warriors
231 Samoa Sualauvi Fa'alogo FB, WG 2023 Australia Melbourne Storm
232 Australia Jack Howarth SR 2023 Australia Melbourne Storm
233 France Joe Chan SR 2023 France Catalans Dragons
234 Australia Shawn Blore SR 2024 Australia Wests Tigers
235 Samoa Lazarus Vaalepu PR 2024 Australia Melbourne Storm
236 Australia Keagan Russell-Smith FE, HB 2024 Australia Melbourne Storm
237 Samoa Ativalu Lisati PR 2024 Australia Melbourne Storm
239 Samoa Stefano Utoikamanu PR 2025 Australia Wests Tigers
240 New Zealand Moses Leo CE, WG 2025 Australia Melbourne Storm
241 Australia Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown CE, WG 2025 Australia Melbourne Storm
– Australia Jack Hetherington SR, PR Yet to debut Australia Newcastle Knights
– Australia Angus Hinchey SR Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
– Australia Stanley Huen FE Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
– Cook Islands Davvy Moale PR, SR Yet to debut Australia South Sydney Rabbitohs
– New Zealand Josiah Pahulu PR Yet to debut Australia Gold Coast Titans
– Australia Hugo Peel FB Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
– Australia Gabriel Satrick HK Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
– Australia Trent Toelau FE Yet to debut Australia Penrith Panthers
– New Zealand Manaia Waitere CE Yet to debut Australia Canberra Raiders

Player movements

Source:[20]

Representative honours

Further information: List of Melbourne Storm representatives

This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2026.

  • (c) = Captain
  • (vc) = Vice-captain
Player NRL All Star match State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Internationals/World Cup
Joe Chan[39] Māori N/a N/a N/a N/a
Trent Toelau[39] Māori N/a N/a N/a N/a
Manaia Waitere[39] Māori N/a N/a N/a N/a

Jerseys

Home
Away

In November 2023, Melbourne Storm announced a new sponsorship and apparel partnership agreement with Irish sportswear company O'Neills.[40] In March 2025, major sponsor RedZed extended their partnership with the club until the end of the 2028 season, with their logo to remain on the club's jersey for a seventh season.[41] Insurance company Budget Direct joined the club as a new sponsorship partner, with the logo added to the sleeves of all jerseys.[42]

Home

Unveiled in November 2025, the club's refreshed jersey sees purple return as the predominant colour of the home jersey design. The design featured a gold chevron beneath a navy blue yoke, while the shoulder panels and sleeves were both purple. A new addition were gold lightning bolts inside the sleeve cuffs.[43]

Away

Also released for sale in November 2025, the club's away jersey also was refreshed for 2026. Predominantly white and worn with white shorts, the jersey features a simple design with purple, navy blue and gold chevrons across the top of the chest. A subtle pattern through the design was said to be "inspired by the topography of Melbourne," while the sleeve cuffs also featured a lightning bolt motif similar to the home jersey.[44]

NSW Cup team

After ending their Queensland Cup affiliations during 2025, Melbourne reinstated a team in the New South Wales Rugby League's New South Wales Cup competition. It will be the first time since the 2010 season that the club had a reserve grade team operating out of Melbourne.[45]

2025 Jersey Flegg Cup premiership coach Mark Russell took the reigns as coach of the team.[45][46]

Results

Key
H Home match
A Away match
N Neutral venue match
Table of season results[47]
Round Date Result Score Opponent Score Ground
1 5 March Parramatta Eels AAMI Park H
2 14 March St George Illawarra Dragons WIN Stadium A
3 21 March Newtown Jets Seabrook Reserve H
4 Bye
5 3 April Penrith Panthers CommBank Stadium A
6 11 April New Zealand Warriors AAMI Park H
7 18 April Canberra Raiders Seiffert Oval A
8 24 April South Sydney Rabbitohs Seabrook Reserve H
9 3 May Newcastle Knights McDonald Jones Stadium A
10 10 May Western Suburbs Magpies AAMI Park H
11 17 May New Zealand Warriors North Sydney Oval N
12 23 May Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Belmore Sports Ground A
13 30 May Sydney Roosters AAMI Park H
14 6 June Newcastle Knights Seabrook Reserve H
15 Bye
16 21 June Canberra Raiders AAMI Park H
17 28 June North Sydney Bears Scully Park N
18 Bye
19 11 July Newtown Jets Henson Park A
20 17 July Sydney Roosters Allianz Stadium A
21 25 July South Sydney Rabbitohs Redfern Oval A
22 31 July Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs AAMI Park H
23 8 August Manly Warringah Sea Eagles TBC H
24 Bye
25 21 August Penrith Panthers Seabrook Reserve H
26 29 August North Sydney Bears North Sydney Oval A

Junior Representatives

The club entered teams in the 2026 New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) male junior representative competitions with the following coaching staff:

Todd Lowrie was appointed the club's Head of Development in addition to his role with the NRL squad.[46]

In a first for the Melbourne Storm, the club entered teams into the NSWRL's female junior representative competitions, the Under-19s Tarsha Gale Cup and the Under-17s Lisa Fiaola Cup.[46] Former Cronulla Sharks development coach Jack Gould was appointed the coach of both teams, under female pathways manager Pauline Poloai.[48]

Most home matches for each of the junior representative squads were scheduled to be played at Seabrook Reserve in Broadmeadows, the home of NRL Victoria. Some matches were also scheduled for Gosch's Paddock, the training venue for the NRL team.

Notes

  1. ^ 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

References

  1. ^ Read, Brent; Carayannis, Michael (13 December 2025). "Every NRL club's train and trial players heading in to the 2026 pre-season". Code Sports. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  2. ^ Carayannis, Michael (5 January 2026). "Parramatta Eels reject Melbourne Storm's audacious bid to sign Zac Lomax for 2026 season". Code Sports. Sydney, New South Wales: News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  3. ^ Issa, Isaac (6 January 2026). "Lomax hires lawyer against Eels in bid to join Storm". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  4. ^ Gabor, Martin (6 January 2026). "'Never say never': Storm release stunning video of Eli Katoa back at training just two months after brain surgery". Code Sports. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Meaney, Wishart to depart at season's end". melbournestorm.com.au. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  6. ^ Maniaty, Peter (8 January 2026). "Storm Warning—Perth Bears finalising NRL deals for star Melbourne duo". The Sporting News. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  7. ^ Twomey, Callum (13 January 2026). "Bombers' CEO process continues, Storm boss not in race". afl.com.au. Melbourne, Victoria. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Craig Bellamy extends to 2028". melbournestorm.com.au. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Bellamy extends his record-breaking run with the Storm". espn.com.au. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  10. ^ Quinlan, Nicholas (6 February 2026). "Bellamy makes call on coaching future with the Storm". Sports Entertainment Network. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  11. ^ "'Put my hand up': Great Daine's stellar Raiders audition; Storm pups shine — What we learned". foxsports.com.au. News Corporation Australia. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Injury Update: Xavier Coates". melbournestorm.com.au. 20 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  13. ^ Bailey, Scott (20 February 2026). "Fresh Lomax twist as Melbourne Storm lose star winger". AAP News. Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  14. ^ "NRL 2026 Melbourne Storm Pre-season Challenge Draw". Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  15. ^ "Raiders v Storm (Round 2 (Pre-Season) 2026)". NRL.com. National Rugby League. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  16. ^ "NRL 2026 Melbourne Storm Draw". Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Storm announce 2019 Football department structure". 5 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  18. ^ "Lowrie to return to Storm". melbournestorm.com.au. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  19. ^ Callinan, Josh (3 November 2022). "Former NRL player Todd Lowrie joins Melbourne Storm coaching staff for 2023". Australian Community Media. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  20. ^ "NRL Signings Tracker". NRL.com. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Anderson to depart Storm at end of 2025". melbournestorm.com.au. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  22. ^ "Nelson Asofa-Solomona to depart Storm". melbournestorm.com.au. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Melbourne Storm grants Nelson Asofa-Solomona immediate release from NRL contract". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  24. ^ Gates, Zachary (9 October 2025). "Storm split with Nelson Asofa-Solomona amid 'attitude' issues". Nine's Wide World of Sport. Nine Media. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  25. ^ "Rabbitohs sign Bronson Garlick for Seasons 2026 and 2027". rabbitohs.com.au. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  26. ^ Harper, Lachlan (23 May 2025). "South Sydney's aggressive rebuild continues as Bronson Garlick returns from Melbourne". Nine's Wide World of Sport. Nine Media. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  27. ^ a b Pryde, Scott (9 October 2025). "Melbourne Storm confirm five player departures". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Flyer's fresh deal emerges after Titans' change of heart, Bears fade: Transfer Whispers". Fox Sports. News Corporation Australia. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  29. ^ "Storm release Papenhuyzen from final year of contract". NRL.com. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  30. ^ Doyle, Michael (30 October 2025). "Ryan Papenhuyzen granted immediate release from Melbourne Storm". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  31. ^ "Pezet to depart Melbourne Storm". melbournestorm.com.au. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  32. ^ Gabor, Martin (29 October 2025). "'One of the most exciting young talents in the game': Jonah Pezet's future finally sorted in multi-club announcement". news.com.au. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  33. ^ Pryde, Scott (29 October 2025). "Full details locked in as Pezet confirms two-club switch". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  34. ^ Ritchie, Dean (25 November 2025). "Melbourne Storm poised to sign Jack Hetherington to replace injured star Eli Katoa". Code Sports. Sydney, New South Wales: News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  35. ^ a b c "Storm secure trio of signings for 2026". melbournestorm.com.au. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  36. ^ "Souths enforcer Davy Moale joins Melbourne Storm after immediate release as three-club move revealed". foxsports.com.au. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  37. ^ "Moale to join Storm for 2026". melbournestorm.com.au. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  38. ^ Goodwin, Sam (3 December 2025). "Melbourne Storm confirm signing of playmaker from Panthers as three players join NRL club". Yahoo News. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  39. ^ a b c "Chan, Toelau, Waitere named in Māori All Stars squad". melbournestorm.com.au. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  40. ^ "Storm joins forces with O'Neills". melbournestorm.com.au. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  41. ^ "Storm and RedZed extend major partnership to 2028". melbournestorm.com.au. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  42. ^ "Budget Direct announced as Storm's first Platinum Partner". melbournestorm.com.au. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  43. ^ "Revealed: 2026 Home Jersey". melbournestorm.com.au. 1 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  44. ^ "Revealed: 2026 Away Jersey". melbournestorm.com.au. 15 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  45. ^ a b "Melbourne Storm will field it's first-ever reserve grade team in the NSW Cup from 2026". news.com.au. News Corporation Australia. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  46. ^ a b c "Storm to enter new era of Pathways". melbournestorm.com.au. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  47. ^ "NSWRL - NSW Cup 2026 draw". nswrl.com.au. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  48. ^ "Storm unveil 2026 female pathways squads". melbournestorm.com.au. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
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