TK's Black Book - Melbourne Storm

TK's simple guide to the Melbourne Storm fantasy prospects for 2025.

Minor premiers and grand finalist from 2024 should be considered favorites given they have added gun front rower Stefano Utoikamanu to their stocks to bolster a slight weakness in their front row while rivals Penrith have lost some significant talent. Given two elite players in Cameron Munster and Nelson Asofa-Solomona were hardly sighted in 2024, a return to health and form for the pair will only add to their premiership credentials. The squad is deep across each position and the spine of Papenhuyzen, Munster, Hughes, Grant and back up Wishart is the number 1 in the NRL.

Prediction - Premiership favorites

Storm 2025 Player Movements

2025 Gains

Moses Leo (2027), Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers, 2027)

2025 Loses

Chris Lewis (retired), Aaron Pene (Leigh Leopards), Reimis Smith, Young Tonumaipea (retired)

The team looks very settled with the only likely change being the addition of Stefano to the starting line up. A few rumors floating around Welch retiring which would then see Vaalepu added to the interchange. Nelson is suspended for round 1. The Draw and Game Day Squad

Byes - round 2, 12, 15

Game Day Squad allows a true focus on weekly match ups. Consider Lil Papi and Nick Meaney in the following match ups which no doubt will see some points.

NRL Fantasy perspective

Two early byes in round 2 and 12 does make it less enticing to go early on any of the gun Storm options. Given players like Grant and Munster will be origin bound, its best to wait on these premium options till after the Origin break. If Paps ever gets a long term injury a player like Sua is a BUY even with the draw.

Fantasy relevant players for round 1 - Stefano Utoikamanu, Jack Howarth, Cameron Munster

2025 NRL Fantasy Fortunes (scroll across to view full notes)

Player	Price	NRL Fantasy Av	GameDay Squad Av	Notes
Jahrome Hughes	$825K	60.4	62.7	Actually had a higher av of 62 vs 58 when Munster played, however he did carry him. He hasn't averaged this high since Covid ball so a lot of risk to take him from the get go off a career year. Prefer Cleary and Hynes
Harry Grant	$730K	53.8	51.3	Scored his lowest average of the last 5 full seasons he has played. No doubt a combination of attacking stats declining and leadership took a slight toll on that average. Have a round 2, 12 and 15 bye so post origin purchase.
Eli Katoa	$700K	52.2	50.1	Dominant season which added 6 points to his average. Does seem fully price and the draw is a turn off. Avoid for now.
Stefano Utoikamanu	$600K	44.9	44.7	Will he continue the trend of improving in the Belly/Storm system? Likely. Had some good patches in 2024. In games over 50 mins he averaged 50 in 55.8 mins. A lot of mouths to feed in the middle though. Watchlist
Trent Loiero	$600K	44.8	42.9	Just dooesn't have a huge upside and his mins fluctuate week to week. Avoid
Cameron Munster	$589K	44.1	47.1	At his best he is well under priced. Those injuries are significant and he will likely be in the origin arena if fit. Very tempting at this price but be prepared that old Munster may not come back. Consider
Shaun Blore	$586K	43.9	41.1	Great production early then faded. Has an inconistent fantasy relevant game if that makes sense, Best to avoid as looks fully priced.
Nick Meaney	$550K	41.2	44.5	Lost a couple of points from the previous season. Looks fully priced and much better options in his position for round 1. Avoid
Tyran Wishart	$550K	40.3	42.1	Av 54 in his 8 games at five-eighth so did us well last year. His average should sink and if an injury in the halves occurs we jump all over him again. Watchlist
Ryan Papenhuyzen	$530K	39.7	44.5	Great to see him back and playing. Without the goal kicking there is no longer the 6-8 extra points that we need from him, so not for me. Avoid
Josh King	$510K	38.2	35.6	Like Jurbo he is the team plodder who never will let you down. As a front rower just won't see the minutes to be relevant. Avoid.
Christian Welch	$456K	34.2	31.4	Back end of his career and playing a limited role. Avoid
Xavier Coates	$450K	33.7	38.7	Never had the fantasy relevant stats to be relevant. Avoid
Sua Fa'alogo	$443K	33.2	38.6	Averages 41.1 in his 7 games starting at FB. Behind Paps so no need to go there early on. 7 games of NSW Cup for 53.4 av. Watchlist and wait for an injury.
Will Warbrick	$433K	32.4	35	Similar to Coates, priced at potential. Avoid
Jack Howarth	$450K	31.8	33	37.4 average as a centre and should continue to improve in his second year of NRL particularly around his try scoring rate. Enough upside here to take a punt at this price. I think he is the pick of the Storm bunch for fantasy. BUY
Grant Anderson	$401K	30.1	31.1	Had some good moments but looks to be the back up. Would be fully priced any way. Avoid
Jonah Pezet	$392K	29.3	26	Surprised he resigned and will be coming back from a serious injury. Wishart probably has jumped him also in the pecking order. Avoid
Alec MacDonald	$391K	29.3	28.7	Bench player at best. Avoid
Nelson Asofa-Solomona	$400K	28.6	27	Suspended for round 1 but upside if he returns to the starting line up. Even in a poor season av of 38.3 (3 starts at lock). Keep on the watchlist for a potential cash down later in the year.
Tui Kamikamica	$373K	27.9	27	Doesn't have a big enough role or the PPM to go with it. Avoid
Bronson Garlick	$350K	27.3	24.1	Barely sighted last year. 10 games NSW Cup for a 38.9 average. Avoid
Lazarus Vaalepu	$291K	21.8	22.5	Love this guys style just won't see enough minutes to be relevant. 17 Q Cup games for a 39.4 average. Avoid
Joe Chan	$300K	20.4	19.3	Just can't break through consistently at NRL Level. 7 games of NSW Cup for only a 34.7 average. Avoid
Kane Bradley	TBA	18.3	18.3	Plays a stack of position so his best spot is the interchange bench. 12 Q Cup games for a 35 average. Avoid
Dean Ieremia	$250K	15	15.1	Not much fantasy relevance in his game. 20 games of NSW Cup for a 28.4 average. Avoid
Chris Lewis	TBA	13.8	13.1	Fills in when he has too but just won't see the game time. 12 games of Qcup for a 40.7 average. Avoid
Marion Seve	$250K	4	2.3	Injury plaegued year where he didn't see much footy. 9 Q Cup games for a 37 average. Price will be interesting if bottom dollar could be relevant with an injury. Watchlist
Ativalu Lisati	$350K	51	50.6	Edge backtower who spent his 2024 with the Bears in NSW Cup. 23 games for a 37.2 fantasy average. Would be well behind on the pecking order. Avoid.
Moses Leo	$350K	0	0	NZ Rugby 7's convert with plenty of promise. Watchlist