Team Announcement: Round 1 v Eels

Author: melbournestorm.com.au
Timestamp: Tue 28 Feb 2023, 03:57 PM

Melbourne Storm will field two players new to the purple jersey in the opening round of the 2023 NRL season against Parramatta in Sydney on Thursday night.

After impressing in the pre-season trials against the Roosters and Warriors, former NZ All Blacks Sevens representative Will Warbrick, who played last season for the Sunshine Coast Falcons, has earned his NRL debut as a starting winger and will become Storm player #225.

Back-rower Eli Katoa, who was recruited from the NZ Warriors where he played 46 matches, will be in the starting pack in his first game for Melbourne and becomes Storm player #226.

In other team news, with the outside back ranks hit hard by injuries to Justin Olam (fractured arm), Marion Seve (knee), Dean Ieremia (knee) and George Jennings (knee), Young Tonumaipea has been brought in from outside the top 30 list to play in the centres.

Thursday night’s game will be State of Origin winger Xavier Coates’ 50th in the NRL after making his debut for Brisbane in 2019.

Christian Welch will be Storm’s sole captain for the first time in his first NRL game since round one last year, with Jahrome Hughes, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant filling the vice-captain roles.

Kick off will be at 7.50pm.

Full team list

Round 1 - Round 1 - Thursday 2 Mar

Full Time

Eels

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo

Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini

Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
Centre for Eels is number 4 Waqa Blake

Centre for Storm is number 4 Young Tonumaipea
Winger for Eels is number 22 Isaac Lumelume

Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard

Prop for Storm is number 8 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Josh Hodgson

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo

Prop for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Bryce Cartwright

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Trent Loiero
2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Matt Doorey

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood

Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh King

Interchange

Interchange for Eels is number 14 Jirah Momoisea

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart
Interchange for Eels is number 15 Jack Murchie

Interchange for Storm is number 15 Alec MacDonald
Interchange for Eels is number 16 Wiremu Greig

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Jordan Grant
Interchange for Eels is number 17 Makahesi Makatoa

Interchange for Storm is number 19 Bronson Garlick