Tim Williams
SC Playbook founder, 2nd NRL 2020, 43rd BBL 21/22'
Squad breakdown: Storm 2025 NRL Supercoach analysis
Former NRL Supercoach runner-up Tim Williams deep dives into the Storm roster ahead of the 2025 season.
NRL
January 26, 2025
The Melbourne Storm head into the 2025 season as premiership heavyweights following defeat in last year’s grand final.
Their roster has stayed very similar while adding a few key recruits, headlined by former Tigers enforcer Stefano Utoikamanu.
An awkward round 2 bye followed with a round 3 clash against Penrith makes for an awkward beginning to their season from a Supercoach perspective, but the class and firepower of the squad is undeniable.
The one silver lining to the early bye is that it’ll likely keep their Supercoach contingent at relatively low-ownership which is a bonus.
Let’s take a look at their Supercoach prospects to begin the NRL season.
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Embed from Getty ImagesMelbourne Storm
- Ryan Papenhuyzen
- Will Warbrick
- Jack Howarth
- Nick Meaney
- Xavier Coates
- Cameron Munster
- Jahrome Hughes
- Stefano Utoikamanu
- Harry Grant
- Josh King
- Shawn Blore
- Eliesa Katoa
- Trent Loiero
- Tyran Wishart
- Alec MacDonald
- Christian Welch
- Tui Kamikamica
Unavailable: Nelson Asofa-Solomona (suspension, round 3),Dean Ieremia (Achilles, late season)
Analysis: Barring any injury troubles, the Melbourne Storm side picks itself for round 1.
Recruit Stefano Utoikamanu will slot straight into prop in place of the suspended Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Kiwi rugby sevens convert Moses Leo is flying on all reports from down south and is putting series pressure on the current centre pairing leading into the season opener.
DRAW
Eels (H), bye, Panthers (H), Dragons (A), Sea Eagles (A), Warriors (H), Dolphins (A), Rabbitohs (H)
First five rounds rating: 4/10
Embed from Getty ImagesGUNS
Jahrome Hughes – HFB – $805,200
The Dally M Medal winner had a blistering season, elevating himself into the top tier of Supercoach halfbacks for the first time in his career.
He averaged a mammoth 82 points per game, a significant increase on his best season of 73 points back in 2022.
There’s no reason why he can’t replicate his feats this year in a rampant side, however the early draw and namely the round 2 bye is pretty off-putting for me.
He averaged 71.6 points in the first five games last season.
As a non goal-kicker he needs to do a lot to hit those heights of last season.
It’s something I think he’s capable of across the season, but with defences sturdier and attacks clunkier early in the year I think he’ll struggle to average 80 which suggests he may be overvalued to start.
A decent option, but probably more of a target heading into the major bye period for me.
Buy rating: 5/10
Embed from Getty ImagesEliesa Katoa – 2RF – $717,300
Katoa entered elite 2RF territory last season having finished with the fourth highest average in the position with 73 points per game, just four points off Angus Crichton in number one.
He produced a decent 47 in base, and crossed for 12 tries.
With no Origin concern he’s another genuine set-and-forget option for the season.
With his attacking upside he has as big a ceiling as any 2RF in the game, maybe aside from David Fifita.
Having recently turned 25 he’s only getting better since arriving at the Storm a couple of seasons ago.
He’s every chance to increase on his 73 average this season and is a strong starting option.
Buy rating: 7/10
Embed from Getty ImagesHarry Grant – HOK – $691,600
Grant is likely to be the top scoring hooker in NRL Supercoach again which makes him a genuine set-and-forget option from round 1.
On previous seasons, he starts at potential value after averaging 71 points in 2024, his lowest since debuting in the NRL.
He’s a typically fast starter, however this did regress last season.
2024 first five: 60 points per game
2023 first five: 79PPG
2022 first five: 84.4PPG
While the round 2 bye isn’t ideal for a spot like hooker, he can easily be covered that week by someone like Sandon Smith.
I can’t argue with anyone looking to start with the best hooker in the game.
Buy rating: 7/10
Embed from Getty ImagesRyan Papenhuyzen – FLB – $616,700
Lil Papy again starts dirt cheap off the back of a 63 point average in 2024.
I really do think his Supercoach prospects rely on whether or not he regains the goal-kicking duties from Nick Meaney at all.
Without the goal-kicking he’s still a viable option, but when you’re comparing him to someone like Kalyn Ponga or Tom Trbojevic that ceiling just drops significantly if not kicking.
Disregarding his two injury effected games last season he averaged 66.3 points.
If you take out his two games that he returned from lengthy injury layoffs that average bumps up to 71.23.
In this side he could easily be an 85+ averaging fullback again with immense upside if goal-kicking again.
You only have to look back a couple of years to 2022 where he averaged 90 points to see what he’s capable of.
Add in a rare full pre-season uninterrupted by injury and he’s definitely undervalued on starting price, but is the upside there to warrant starting him over one of the gun FLBs?
Buy rating: 6/10 (based on no goal-kicking)
Cameron Munster – 5/8 – $609,000
Munster had his poorest Supercoach season in a long time in 2024, averaging just 62 points per game.
Injury plagued his season, and recent surgery has him in doubt for round 1 this year.
With the round 2 bye it wouldn’t shock to see the Storm give him the extra week to recover ahead of the round 3 grand final rematch with the Panthers.
Regardless, I struggle to entertain buying him with ongoing injury concerns in what’s an already star-studded backline with numerous ballplaying options.
I feel he’s an easy avoid, then pick up in round 4 ahead of his first price rise if he does in fact come out and kill it early and look like the Munster of old.
If that does in fact happen than his starting price will be massive unders.
Buy rating: 4/10
Embed from Getty ImagesMID-RANGERS
Stefano Utoikamanu – FRF – 529,000
There’s plenty of hype around Utoikamanu with the move from wooden spooners the Tigers to heavyweights Melbourne.
From a Supercoach standpoint I don’t really see the value based on the fact he averaged 54 points in 50 minutes with 41 base per game last season.
He probably doesn’t get too many extra minutes at the Storm, granted he is capable of punching out closer to the 60 mark if required.
I also like to see my big boys offloading, and Stefano had just 22 offloads in 24 games in 2024.
Craig Bellamy tends to not promote second phase play with his props, so this isn’t ideal.
There is a world where he comes out and absolutely thrives at his new club, in big minutes, with a licence to free the arm with offloads.
If this happens we can snap him up early on, but there’s plenty I need to see before investing.
Buy rating: 5/10
Jack Howarth – CTW – $426,200
In his nine 80 minute games last season Howarth averaged 52.88 points.
Priced on his 44 point average, there’s room for improvement for a player set for his first full NRL season.
He’s also adjusting to the centre role after spending plenty of time in the back-row coming through the grades.
He has lost his dual 2RF-CTW positioning which isn’t ideal.
Buy rating: 6/10
CHEAPIES
Moses Leo – CTW – $214,000
It’s unlikely there will be any cheapies at the Storm to begin the season, however Kiwi Rugby Sevens recruit Moses Leo is in the frame for an NRL debut at some stage.
He’s impressed throughout the early stages of the pre-season and will heap pressure on Jack Howarth and Nick Meaney for starting spots.
If he gets a start he’ll come into a red-hot backline and will loom as a near must-have if the job security were to strengthen.
Monitor how the pre-season unfolds.
Buy rating: 3/10
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