Team List: Pre-season Challenge v Roosters

Author: melbournestorm.com.au
Timestamp: Tue 7 Feb 2023, 03:55 PM

Melbourne Storm has named a 28-man squad full of experienced NRL players and emerging talent for the season-opening NRL Pre-season Challenge match against the Roosters at GHMBA Stadium in Geelong on Sunday.

The list is highlighted by the return from long-term injuries by 2022 captain Christian Welch (achilles) and centre Reimis Smith (pectoral) who will gain valuable match fitness ahead of the first round meeting with Parramatta on March 2.

Smith will be in the run-on 13 along with fellow first-choice centre Justin Olam, while Welch will return to his number 10 jersey for his first minutes since the opening match of last season.

New Storm top 30 squad member Joe Chan, signed from the Catalans Dragons in Super League, has been selected in the starting back-row while Bronson Garlick will switch from his usual back-row slot to take on a new role at hooker.

There’s plenty of young talent in the backline including Victorian Thunderbolts graduate Sua Fa’alogo at fullback and a halves pairing of 2022 Storm Rookie of the Year Tyran Wishart and NSW Under-19s Origin representative Jonah Pezet.

On the interchange bench are a host of new faces led by back-rower Eli Katoa who will play his first game for Storm since signing from the NZ Warriors.

Two first-year Storm Academy members, back-rower Angus Hinchey and halfback Keagan Russell-Smith, will get their chance at senior football after impressing during pre-season training.

They will be joined by six feeder club triallists Lazarus Vaalepu, Josh Patston and Scott Galeano (Sunshine Coast Falcons) and Kane Bradley, Max Lehmann and Charlie Murray (Brisbane Tigers).

A new initiative in 2023, the NRL Pre-season Challenge carries $100,000 in prizemoney with points accrued in various ways across each club’s two matches.

Teams will receive 12 points for a win, six points for a draw, and will also be eligible for a bonus point by scoring five or more tries, making five or more linebreaks and 10 or more offloads.

As a result, teams can earn a maximum of 15 points per match, encouraging open and entertaining play.

Kickoff at GHMBA Stadium on Sunday will be at 1.50pm.

Get your tickets now!

Team List

Round 1 - Round 1 - Sunday 12 Feb

Full Time

Storm

Roosters

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 Ethan King
Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick

Winger for Roosters is number 25 Vuate Karawalevu
Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam

Centre for Roosters is number 4 Junior Pauga
Centre for Storm is number 15 Young Tonumaipea

Centre for Roosters is number 20 William Fakatoumafi
Winger for Storm is number 5 Dean Ieremia

Winger for Roosters is number 28 Tuipulotu Katoa
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Tyran Wishart

Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 16 Jake Turpin
Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jonah Pezet

Halfback for Roosters is number 26 Sandon Smith

Forwards

Prop for Storm is number 13 Josh King

Prop for Roosters is number 15 Fletcher Baker
Hooker for Storm is number 9 Bronson Garlick

Hooker for Roosters is number 21 Thomas Deakin
Prop for Storm is number 16 Jordan Grant

Prop for Roosters is number 22 Tuku Hau Tapuha
2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Joe Chan

2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Siua Wong
2nd Row for Storm is number 17 Eliesa Katoa

2nd Row for Roosters is number 27 Elie El-Zakham
Lock for Storm is number 12 Chris Lewis

Lock for Roosters is number 19 Ben Thomas

Interchange

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Ammaron Gudgeon

Interchange for Roosters is number 2 Alfred Smalley
Interchange for Storm is number 18 Jayden Nikorima

Interchange for Roosters is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
Interchange for Storm is number 19 Keagan Russell-Smith

Interchange for Roosters is number 6 Drew Hutchison
Interchange for Storm is number 20 Cole Geyer

Interchange for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker

Reserves

Reserve for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith

Reserve for Roosters is number 9 Brandon Smith
Reserve for Storm is number 8 Aaron Pene

Reserve for Roosters is number 10 Matthew Lodge
Reserve for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch

Reserve for Roosters is number 11 Egan Butcher
Reserve for Storm is number 21 Grant Anderson

Reserve for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
Reserve for Storm is number 22 Angus Hinchey

Reserve for Roosters is number 17 Terrell May
Reserve for Storm is number 23 Lazarus Vaalepu

Reserve for Roosters is number 18 Kurt De Luis
Reserve for Storm is number 24 Kane Bradley

Reserve for Roosters is number 23 Xavier Va'a
Reserve for Storm is number 25 Charlie Murray

Reserve for Roosters is number 24 Tyler Moriarty
Reserve for Storm is number 26 Joshua Patston
Reserve for Storm is number 27 Scott Galeano
Reserve for Storm is number 28 Max Lehmann