NRL Supercoach 2026: Storm + Dolphins squad analysis

Melbourne Storm

The Melbourne Storm enter their 2026 campaign looking to go one better than last season.

They have a few new faces in the mix, with star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen leaving the club and gun back-rower Eliesa Katoa, unfortunately, out for the season.

While there are some doubts over their credentials as a result, the fact is that it’s still a strong roster with a world-class spine.

Remarkably, they haven’t lost in Round 1 since 2001, so any fears of a slow start can probably be put to bed.

With Sua Fa’alogo looking to cement the fullback spot and Zac Lomax’s potential signing lingering, they’ll make for an exciting watch to kick off the year.

Let’s take a look at their NRL Supercoach prospects for the 2026 season.

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Predicted Round 1 starting team 

1. Sua Fa’alogo

2. Will Warbrick

3. Jack Howarth

4. Nick Meaney

5. Moses Leo

6. Cam Munster

7. Jahrome Hughes

8. Stefano Utoikamanu

9. Harry Grant

10. Josh King

11. Joe Chan

12. Shawn Blore

13. Ativalu Lisati

14. Tyran Wishart

15. Tui Kamikamica

16. Alec MacDonald

17. Josiah Pahulu

18. Jack Hetherington

19. Marion Seve

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Analysis: Sua Fa’alogo will fill the boots of Ryan Papenhuyzen following his exit from the club.

If Zac Lomax was cleared to sign with the Storm at any point, he’d join the side on the wing.

Meaney could also shift to fullback, pending how Fa’alogo performs in the pre-season.

Xavier Coates suffered an Achilles injury in the pre-season, meaning Moses Leo likely starts on the wing.

Trent Loiero will miss the first two rounds due to suspension, leaving Ativalu Lisati likely to start either at lock or on the edge.

With Loiero out, he probably begins the new campaign at lock with Joe Chan on the edge.

Recruit Jack Hetherington will be competing for a round 1 bench spot.

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Fixtures

Round 1: Eels (H)

Round 2: Dragons (A)

Round 3: Broncos (H)

Round 4: Cowboys (A)

Round 5: Panthers (A)

Byes: (Major bye rounds are 12, 15, 18)

Round 15, 18, 24

Verdict: The Storm have a real mixed bag to start the season, with three of five games away from home.

The Broncos and Panthers are brutal, while the Eels, Dragons, and Cowboys all present decent scoring potential.

They haven’t lost in round 1 in over two decades, which should ease any concerns of any early jitters.

No byes until round 15 is also enticing.

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Start

Harry Grant I $606,300 I HOK

Grant was in my team prior to the stats change, and has become an even better buy since the switch.

He averaged 62 last season, which translates to 66 under the new system.

Last year was the first season he’s averaged below 70 points per game.

He’s the best hooker in the game that you can likely set-and-forget for the season if he stays fit.

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Consider

Jahrome Hughes I $631,900 I HFB

Halfback is one of the trickier positions to begin the season, with a number of different ways you could go.

Hughes looks undervalued to me, having failed to finish four games due to injury.

He averaged 65 points in 71 minutes per game.

The year prior, he averaged 82 points per game and 71 per game the year prior.

No Katoa on his edge will hurt, but I do see him as a nice stepping stone to Cleary or Hynes.

Cameron Munster I $682,200 I 5/8

The five-eighth position isn’t the most enticing this season, so why not lock in the best in the business?

Munster rarely explodes, but he’s always in and around the top averaging five-eighths in Supercoach.

While the big tonnes tend to elude him, he also has one of the best floors in the position, ensuring he rarely scores poorly.

In fact, his lowest score in 21 games last season was 41 points, not too shabby!

Munster is Mr. Consistent, producing averages across the past five seasons of 70, 62, 71, 81, and 74 points per game.

You can’t knock anyone looking to lock him in from Round 1.

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Stefano Utoikamanu I $515,600 I FRF

I can’t trust Stefano from Round 1 without seeing minutes and output, but he does feel like he could explode in Supercoach at any point.

Granted, we say the same about him every season.

State of Origin unleashed him last season, coming out of the Origin period with a 65-point average in the final five games of the season, with a strong 49 in base points.

I feel like the growing combination with Harry Grant is only going to lead to more tries and linebreaks this season, giving him some additional upside.

Not for me just yet, but he’s a big early-season watch. 

Sua Fa’alogo I $511,700 I FLB

With Ryan Papenhuyzen leaving the Storm, it opens the door for electrifying fullback Sua Fa’alogo to start the season in the No.1 jumper.

He didn’t play fullback for the Storm last season, but in his six games wearing the No.1 in 2024, he averaged a decent 64 points per game.

He’ll likely produce a mixed bag of highs and lows scores throughout the season, but he has the potential for the highs to be 100+ in a flash.

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Cheapies

Ativalu Lisati I $269,400 I 2RF or Joe Chan I $309,900 I 2RF

Lisati burst onto the scene last season in a bench role for the Storm.

With Eli Katoa out for the season, Nelson Asofa-Solomona departed, and Trent Loiero suspended for the first two games, minutes should be there for him to evolve into a starter in 2026.

He’s battling with Joe Chan for a spot, while Shawn Blore hasn’t been sighted this pre-season.

This is a significant TLT watch!

I’d prefer Lisati, but both will be tempting despite a concern over minutes.

Moses Leo I $235,600 I CTW

The unfortunate injury to Storm star Xavier Coates will likely see Kiwi Moses Leo start on the wing.

He looks like an excellent player with genuine scoring potential in a quality attacking team.

If it wasn’t for Zac Lomax’s shadow lingering over AAMI Park, I’d probably have him as a must, provided he does win the vacant wing spot.

Jack Hetherington I $235,600 I 2RF-FRF

Hetherington likely needs an injury or two in order to inflate minutes, but with key middles leaving the club, he could earn some decent game time.

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Dolphins

You can’t help but feel things could all come together for the Dolphins this season.

They’ve had a few narrow misses of the top eight since their inception, but finals footy and potentially even a deep run into September wouldn’t come as a shock.

They were impressive last season despite an enormous casualty ward, and their depth looks even more impressive this season.

They have a full year under coach Kristian Woolfe, and Isaiya Katoa is expected to take another step towards joining the elite playmakers in the game, if he’s not already there…

They’re arguably the most exciting team heading into the new campaign.

Supercoach-wise, they have a number of enticing forward options; they’re so stacked I have no idea where minutes will fall, so I’ll personally be watching and assessing on that front.

With plenty of points expected, they have a number of exciting attacking options.

Let’s take a look at their NRL Supercoach prospects for the 2026 season.

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Predicted Round 1 starting team 

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

2. Jamayne Isaako

3. Jake Averillo

4. Herbie Farnworth

5. Selwyn Cobbo

6. Kodi Nikorima

7. Isaiya Katoa

8. Daniel Saifiti

9. Kurt Donoghoe

10. Francis Molo

11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

12. Connelly Lemuelu

13. Tom Gilbert

14. Ray Stone

15. Tom Flegler

16. Oryn Keely

17. Morgan Knowles

18. Felise Kaufusi

19. Trai Fuller

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Analysis: The Dolphins are loaded with depth, making them one of the hardest line-ups to predict.

Has Trai Fuller shown enough to force Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow into the centres?

Perhaps, but according to Kristian Woolfe, the spot still belongs to Hammer.

Jack Bostock is out for the start of the season, which locks recruit Selwyn Cobbo onto the wing with Jamayne Isaako.

Max Plath is now an outside chance for round one, which would shake up the starting side.

Jeremy Marshall-King is out for the beginning of the season with a knee injury, with Plath also likely out, so it will see Kurt Donoghoe start at hooker.

There are countless ways they could go with their forward pack and bench, with a number of versatile big men that can be moved around.

Tom Flegler is on track to return from a lengthy injury lay-off in round 1 after an impressive trial performance.

English international Morgan Knowles joins the club and will join the six-man bench alongside Felise Kaufusi and Ray Stone.

It also wouldn’t surprise to see Oryn Keeley start on the edge and either Kulikefu Finefeuiaki or Connelly Lemuelu miss out.

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Fixtures

Round 1: Rabbitohs (H)

Round 2: Titans (H)

Round 3: Sharks (A)

Round 4: Broncos (A)

Round 5: Sea Eagles (H)

Byes: (Major bye rounds are 12, 15, 18)

Round 6, 13, 21

Verdict: The Dolphins’ draw is fairly enticing, with three of five games at home, and one of their away fixtures being played at Suncorp Stadium against the Broncos.

They play four of their first five at Suncorp and Redcliffe, which are typically great venues for point scoring.

Looking longer-term at any keepers, they also play all three major bye rounds, and two mini bye rounds, which is as good as it gets.

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Start

Herbie Farnworth | $825,600 | CTW

Farnworth is one of the big winners from the new system.

He’s priced at $825k from an 84-point average; under the new system, he averaged 91 points and should be priced at approximately $892k.

With Selwyn Cobbo on his outside this season, he could explode.

Consider

Selwyn Cobbo I $524,800 I CTW

Stats won’t necessarily push towards Cobbo as a buy, but the eye test certainly does.

Not even for Cobbo himself, but for the left edge of the Dolphins.

With Isaiya Katoa pulling the strings and weaving his magic on the inside and Herbie Farnworth feeding him the pill, the left wing looks like a gold mine to me.

Pushing aside the fact he’s an athletic weapon with tackle-busting ability, I feel the linebreaks and tries will flow for Cobbo on the wing.

It’s more of a gut feel call than anything, but sometimes you have to back the gut!

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Isaiya Katoa I $639,300 I HFB

Isaiya Katoa is the sixth biggest loser in terms of starting value out of the new stats system.

He’s priced at $639k on a 65.4 average; under the NRL stats, he’d be $586k on a 59.9 point average.

I won’t consider him early on as a result, but I felt he’s at least worth a mention as one of the game’s elite playmakers, who’s only going to improve drastically year-on-year.

Cheapies

Thomas Flegler I $346,200 I FRF

I loved what I saw from Tommy Flegler on return from a two-year lay-off, he dead set didn’t look like he’d missed a beat.

I’m wary early on as I feel from the lengthy lay-off, coupled with a STACKED Dolphins pack, he’ll be eased into bigger game time.

I can see why you’d start with him, and there’s a world where people are flocking to grab him in round 3 prior to price rises, but I’ll likely be waiting.

I feel as he peaks in game time he could be ripe for picking at a similar price come round 6 or 7.