Katoa ready to roar as Storm's leading man

Melbourne Storm skipper Harry Grant has praised teammate Eli Katoa's ability to unite the playing group after the forward's elevation to the club's leadership group. 

The 25-year-old joins a group featuring Josh King, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Tui Kamikamica for the first time in 2025, with Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster the vice-captains and Grant the captain. 

Grant has watched Katoa evolve as a player and person since his arrival in Melbourne in 2023 and said the Tongan representative will bring a unique perspective to the leadership group.

"Eli's a big presence around our club," Grant told NRL.com at the NRL season launch. "As a player he carries a lot of weight with the way he goes about his business with his actions, his words and his voice. 

"He's very educated on the game, he loves analysing his own game and he's a really good connector of our group. He brings a lot of importance and meaning to the Tongan culture, the Samoan culture and the Fijian culture and brings that to the forefront of the group. 

"He's only going to grow from this appointment and as long as he keeps playing like he did last year then we're in a good position."

Katoa made his debut for the Warriors in 2020 before moving to Melbourne three years later. 

After an impressive 2023, the forward took his game to the next level last season, playing a key role in the Storm's charge to the minor premiership. 

Katoa was named in the Dally M Team of the Year and was a standout for Tonga during their run to the Pacific Championships final. 

From the outside looking in, Katoa is a softly spoken player who prefers to let his football do the talking. 

Grant, however, revealed the 25-year-old isn't afraid to speak up when needed and has a bit of fun along the way.

"He's quite the joker," Grant said. "He's a bit of a prankster, very funny and a great connector in the playing group. 

"At the end of the day he just wants to play footy and he's got a lot of purpose to why he does that and he brings that to the table every day. It's not just on game day, he brings that every day and that's why he's earned this position. 

"It's not only through his performances but his demeanour around the playing group over the last few years and that's why the players wanted him in there."

Melbourne will start their quest to avenge last year's grand final defeat in Hamilton on Saturday for their opening game of the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge.

Coach Craig Bellamy is set to rest a host of topline players for the clash with the Warriors, with many regular first graders to start their season against the Cowboys a week later. 

The Storm received a dose of good news over the weekend when Xavier Coates was cleared of a serious ankle injury, with the winger pushing to return in Round 1.