Team Announcement: Pre-Season Challenge v Warriors

Author: melbournestorm.com.au
Timestamp: Tue 11 Feb 2025, 04:01 PM

Melbourne Storm has named a 28-player squad for Saturday’s pre-season challenge against the New Zealand Warriors at FMG Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon.

Coached by Ryan Hinchcliffe and assisted by Marc Brentnall, Storm’s first pre-season game for 2025 features an exciting mix of experience and youth, with senior players combining with talent from across the Club’s pathway system.

Sua Fa'alogo gets his first crack at the fullback jersey, with the Victorian lining up alongside wingers Kane Bradley and Setu Tu. Mitchell Jennings and Coby Williamson start in the centres, with Tyran Wishart at five-eighth and youngster Keagan Russell-Smith at halfback.

Storm fans will get their first glimpse of new signing Stefano Utoikamanu with the front-rower named in a beefed-up forward pack featuring Lazarus Vaalepu, Ativalu Lisati, Joe Chan and Angus Hinchey. Bronson Garlick gets the nod at hooker.

The bench features an exciting array of Storm development, academy and feeder players who have impressed throughout pre-season and get their opportunity in the purple jersey.

Storm’s next pre-season challenge game is against North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday 23 February at Casey Fields with an experienced line-up of NRL players expected to be confirmed.

Round 2 - Saturday 15th February

Full Time

Warriors

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo
Winger for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki

Winger for Storm is number 2 Kane Bradley
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua

Centre for Storm is number 3 Mitchell Jennings
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Centre for Storm is number 4 Coby Williamson
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Winger for Storm is number 5 Setu Tu
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 22 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Tyran Wishart
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Metcalf

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Keagan Russell-Smith

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Bunty Afoa

Prop for Storm is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Bronson Garlick
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford

Prop for Storm is number 10 Lazarus Vaalepu
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Joe Chan
2nd Row for Warriors is number 15 Marata Niukore

2nd Row for Storm is number 21 Josh Billing
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Lock for Storm is number 13 Angus Hinchey

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 11 Demitric Vaimauga

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Stanley Huen
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker

Interchange for Storm is number 15 Cooper Page-Wilson
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Leka Halasima

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Nathaniel Roache
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom Ale

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Ben Talty

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi

Reserve for Storm is number 18 Morgan Harper
Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Samuel Healey

Reserve for Storm is number 19 Jak Goulding
Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Freddy Lussick

Reserve for Storm is number 20 Hugo Peel
Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Geronimo Doyle

Reserve for Storm is number 22 Suli Pole
Reserve for Warriors is number 24 Luke Hanson

Reserve for Storm is number 23 Vaka Sikahele
Reserve for Warriors is number 25 Kalani Going

Reserve for Storm is number 24 Preston Conn
Reserve for Warriors is number 26 Moala Graham-Taufa

Reserve for Storm is number 25 Liam Williams
Reserve for Warriors is number 27 Sio Kali

Reserve for Storm is number 26 Eli Morris
Reserve for Warriors is number 28 Motu Pasikala

Reserve for Storm is number 27 Ioane Lui
Reserve for Warriors is number 29 Jett Cleary

Reserve for Storm is number 28 Tuipulotu Katoa