Queensland State of Origin stars Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Xavier Coates headline the Melbourne Storm line-up to play the NZ Warriors in the Unite for Tonga NRL pre-season trial at Casey Fields on Saturday.
Coach Craig Bellamy has named a 27-man squad for Storm’s first hit-out of the season, with the run-on 13 to be decided later in the week.
Munster, Grant and Dally M Hooker of the Year Brandon Smith, who will all miss the round one clash with Wests Tigers due to suspension, will get valuable game time in the opening trial with Bellamy electing to go with a more experienced squad than he usually does for the first game of the year.
It will be the first match in Storm colours for Coates, who joined Melbourne from Brisbane in the offseason, who is a prime candidate for the wing spot that was left vacant by Josh Addo-Carr when he finished his time with Storm at the end of 2021.
Among those wearing the purple jersey for the first time are top-30 squad members Nick Meaney, Josh King, Tyran Wishart, Jayden Nikorima and Will Warbrick and new development list players Bronson Garlick and Cole Geyer.
The squad also includes a number of players from Storm’s two Hostplus Cup affiliates, Sunshine Coast Falcons and Brisbane Tigers, who spent time with Storm over the pre-season and Storm First Nations Pathway Program member AJ Gudgeon.
The NRL trial kicks off at 4pm following the Thunderbolts’ first SG Ball home game of the season against the St George Dragons at 1.30pm.
MELBOURNE STORM SQUAD
Grant Anderson, Xavier Coates, Sua Fa’alogo, Darius Farmer, Bronson Garlick, Cole Geyer, Harry Grant, AJ Gudgeon, Jack Howarth, Dean Ieremia, George Jennings, Cooper Johns, Josh King, Chris Lewis, Trent Loiero, Wes Lolo, Alex MacDonald, Nick Meaney, Cameron Munster, Jayden Nikorima, Jonah Pezet, Will Samuel, Marion Seve, Patrice Siolo, Brandon Smith, Will Warbrick, Tyran Wishart.
