Team List: Pre-season Challenge v Warriors

Author: melbournestorm.com.au
Timestamp: Tue 14 Feb 2023, 03:57 PM

A string of big names are ready to return for Melbourne Storm in the NRL Pre-season Challenge match against the NZ Warriors in Christchurch on Sunday.

Back in action for Storm for the first time in our 25th anniversary season and sharing the captaincy duties with 2022 skipper Christian Welch are five-eighth Cameron Munster, halfback Jahrome Hughes and hooker Harry Grant, who have all been named in the starting 13.

Also in line for their first action of the new season will be Nick Meaney, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Trent Loiero, Tom Eisenhuth, Tui Kamikamica, Xavier Coates and Alec MacDonald.

Former All Blacks Sevens representative Will Warbrick will start in the No.2 jersey in his first game in a Storm jersey in his homeland, while Young Tonumaipea will fill the starting centre role usually held by Justin Olam, who suffered a fractured forearm in the loss to the Roosters in Sydney on Sunday.

Loiero, Katoa and Eisenhuth have been named in a new-look starting forward pack.

Sunday’s game will be Melbourne’s first visit to Orangetheory Stadium, which is home to the Canterbury Crusaders Super Rugby squad who have formed close ties with Storm.

Kickoff is at 12.50pm (Melbourne time).

TV coverage will be on Fox League and Kayo.

Storm Pre-season Challenge team list

Round 2 - Round 2 - Sunday 19 Feb

Full Time

Warriors

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Brayden Wiliame

Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Viliami Vailea

Centre for Storm is number 4 Young Tonumaipea
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya

Winger for Storm is number 20 Xavier Coates
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Ronald Volkman

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Storm is number 8 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett

Prop for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Trent Loiero
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Lock for Storm is number 15 Josh King

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker

Interchange for Storm is number 5 Grant Anderson
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty Afoa

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Bronson Garlick
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Josh Curran

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Chris Lewis
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom Ale

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Tui Kamikamica

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Ali Leiataua

Reserve for Storm is number 13 Tom Eisenhuth
Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Ben Farr

Reserve for Storm is number 18 Jonah Pezet
Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Freddy Lussick

Reserve for Storm is number 19 Tyran Wishart
Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Taine Tuaupiki

Reserve for Storm is number 21 Joe Chan
Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Bayley Sironen

Reserve for Storm is number 22 Aaron Pene
Reserve for Warriors is number 24 Paul Roache

Reserve for Storm is number 23 Jordan Grant
Reserve for Warriors is number 25 Edward Kosi

Reserve for Storm is number 24 Sualauvi Faalogo
Reserve for Warriors is number 26 Demitric Sifakula

Reserve for Storm is number 25 Alec MacDonald
Reserve for Storm is number 26 Dean Ieremia