With the Panthers shedding a number of strike energy from their grand remaining profitable crew over the summer season, the bookies have put in Melbourne as title favourites this marketing campaign.
And with maestro Craig Bellamy pulling the strings for probably the ultimate time and managing to maintain most of his roster intact, the omens are good for the Storm.
Melbourne removed some useless wooden, have some nice youngsters coming via their system and have added Tigers colossus Stefano Utoikamanu to their ahead rotation.
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Utoikamanu was a child with promise on the Tigers – watch him turn into an elite front-rower underneath Bellamy.
Stefano Utoikamanu The Mole Instagram
The road-up on the Storm is so sturdy that there might effectively not be a spot for budding celebrity Sua Fa’alogo within the 17-man line-up for spherical one.
Bellamy boasts the perfect backbone within the NRL with pocket rocket Ryan Papenhuyzen at fullback, dynamic duo Cam Munster and Jahrome Hughes within the halves and the sport’s prime hooker, Harry Grant, carrying the No.9 jumper.
He has constructed a crew across the 4 stars and everybody performs their half to perfection.
Watch the 2025 NRL premiership dwell and free on 9 and 9Now.
The wing pairing of Will Warbrick and Xavier Coates rating tries for enjoyable, whereas within the centres Nick Meaney is extremely underrated and Jack Howarth was one of many large improvers within the league in 2024.
The forwards are mainly sincere toilers excluding Eli Katoa, who with a sprinkling of Bellamy’s magic mud, turned one of the vital harmful vast runners within the league final season and may solely get higher.
Grant is a freak out of dummy-half and rival coaches know what he’s going to do every week – however appear powerless to cease him, such is his class.
Harry Grant is the sport’s main hooker. Getty
2025 positive aspects
Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers), Moses Leo (NZ rugby)
2025 losses
Reimis Smith (Catalans Dragons), Younger Tonumaipea (retired), Aaron Pene (Leigh Leopards), Chris Lewis (retired), Tepai Moeroa (launched)
Greatest purchase:
Utoikamanu is the one ‘identify’ signing the membership has made and having battled with the picket spooners in current seasons, he’ll love enjoying in a profitable pack.
It is a large season for:
The flashy Sua Fa’alogo – who might effectively not be within the crew for spherical one however will get his probability at some stage – and must seize it and turn out to be a daily first grader.
He is ok, that is for certain.
Sualauvi Faalogo is without doubt one of the Storm’s brightest younger stars. Getty
Largest query mark:
Depth within the forwards is a little bit of a priority, though the truth that not one of the Storm pack is more likely to play Origin will likely be an enormous benefit.
Predicted end: 1st
Predicted 17 for spherical one:
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Will Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eli Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Joe Chan 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Alec MacDonald
Betting odds to win comp: $3.85
