2024 Melbourne Storm season

The 2024 Melbourne Storm season is the 27th in the club's history, competing in the 2024 NRL season. The team is coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching the club for his 22nd consecutive season. Melbourne Storm has a new captain for the season, with Harry Grant replacing Christian Welch.

Season summary

 * 12 January – Following much speculation, 2020 premiership player Justin Olam was released to join the Wests Tigers, with Shawn Blore joining the club. Blore had previously signed to join Melbourne in 2025.
 * 7 February – The club announced a revamped leadership group, with Harry Grant replacing Christian Welch as club captain. Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster were appointed vice-captains, with Josh King, Ryan Papenhuyzen, and Tui Kamikamica the other members of the leadership group.
 * 29 February – Victorian-raised Sualauvi Fa'alogo signs a contract extension that will keep him in Melbourne until the end of the 2028 NRL season. The 20-year-old Fa'alogo was also promoted to the club's top-30 roster for this season as a result of the new contract.
 * Round 1 – Missing Cameron Munster and Nelson Asofa-Solomona through injury, Melbourne hold reigning premiers Penrith Panthers scoreless to win 8–0 at AAMI Park. The victory was the club's 22nd consecutive round 1 victory, and ended a three-match losing streak against the Panthers.
 * Round 2 – With seconds remaining, Xavier Coates scores a remarkable try for Melbourne to steal a 30–26 win against the New Zealand Warriors to retain the Michael Moore Trophy. Melbourne had trailed by eight points with three minutes remaining. It was the Storm's 15th consecutive win against the Warriors. Earlier Nick Meaney scored a try in his 50th match for the club, while Jahrome Hughes was later cited with a grade two contrary conduct charge for contact with the referee during play.    Hughes later entering in an early guilty plea to avoid a two-match suspension, taking a one-match suspension instead.
 * Round 5 – Following a bye, Cameron Munster makes his first appearance for the season, the first time the club's first choice spine players had featured together since round 18, 2022. Melbourne coming from behind to defeat the Brisbane Broncos 34–32 in a high-scoring match at AAMI Park, extending the club's unbeaten run at the venue to 12 matches.
 * 9 April – Nick Meaney signs a new contract extension, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2026 season.
 * Round 6 – With five minutes remaining, Shawn Blore scored his first try for the club to snatch a 16–14 win against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. It was Melbourne's 13th consecutive win at AAMI Park, a streak stretching back to March 2023. Earlier in the match, Canterbury's Sam Hughes and Melbourne's Ryan Papenhuyzen were sent to the sin bin in separate incidents. Papenhuyzen's sin bin was his first in the NRL, and he was also cited by the NRL match review for the first time for an alleged hip-drop tackle on former Storm player Josh Addo-Carr.
 * Round 9 – Cameron Munster (200 games) and Christian Welch (150 games) celebrate milestones as Melbourne extend their winning streak to five straight wins in a tight 22–20 victory over the Gold Coast Titans. The Storm had scored four straight tries in the first half, but the loss of Ryan Papenhuyzen to a broken leg put them on the back foot during the second half, with a penalty goal the only points scored by Melbourne after the break.
 * 10 May – Coach Craig Bellamy confirms that he will remain with the club for the 2025 season, extending his tenure into a 23rd season.
 * Round 10 – Cronulla end Melbourne's five-match winning streak leaving AAMI Park victorious 25–18, the Storm's first defeat at AAMI Park in over a year. Storm captain Harry Grant is controversially sent to the sin bin late in the first half by referee Grant Atkins, and is later charged with a dangerous contact (grade 1) charge by the NRL's match review committee. Grant later pleads not guilty at the NRL Judiciary and is found not guilty.
 * Round 11 – The club wins their Magic Round match for the first time since 2021, with a stirring second half performance to defeat the Parramatta Eels 48–16. Harry Grant and Reimis Smith both score doubles. Cameron Munster leaves the field late in the first half after re-injuring the groin issue he first injured in preseason.  It is later announced that he suffered a tear in the adductor tendon and will miss at least 8–10 weeks.
 * 24 May – Aaron Pene is released by the club to take up an opportunity with the Leigh Leopards in the Super League.
 * Round 14 – After taking top spot on the NRL ladder during the club's second bye week, Melbourne retain the competition lead with a 36–24 win over the Knights at AAMI Park. Nick Meaney and Tyran Wishart both scoring two tries.
 * Round 15 – Melbourne retain the Michael Moore Trophy for the 16th straight match, beating the Warriors 38–24 at a sold out Go Media Stadium.
 * Round 17 – Xavier Coates suffers a serious hamstring injury in his 50th appearance for the club, as Melbourne extended their winning streak to four matches with a 16–6 win over the Canberra Raiders at a wet AAMI Park. Jack Howarth scored his first career try before also leaving the field due to injury.
 * 3 July – Alec MacDonald and Grant Anderson sign contract extensions to stay with the club. Anderson signs on until the end of the 2025 season, with MacDonald extending until the end of the 2028 season.
 * 8 July – Melbourne Storm coaching coordinator Jason Ryles was announced as the Parramatta Eels coach, to start in 2025. Ryles will be the third former member of the Storm's coaching staff to coach that club. On 17 July, Melbourne released Ryles from his role at the club in order for him to start at Parramatta before the end of the 2024 season.
 * Round 20 – Melbourne returned from a bye to win their sixth straight match, a dominate 24–8 win over the Sydney Roosters. Nick Meaney kicked his 200th goal for the club, while Lazarus Vaalepu made his NRL debut. Joe Chan was sin binned during the second half and later charged by the NRL Judiciary for a tackle on Victor Radley.

Pre-season Challenge
Source:

Matches
Source: Fixture notes:
 * – Golden Point extra time
 * (pen) – Penalty try

Coaching staff

 * Craig Bellamy – Head Coach
 * Marc Brentnall – Assistant Coach
 * Aaron Bellamy – Assistant Coach
 * Ryan Hinchcliffe – Assistant Coach
 * Todd Lowrie – Development Coach
 * Jason Ryles – Coaching Coordinator (until 17 July)

2024 squad
List current as of 12 June 2024

Player movements
Source:

Losses
 * Tom Eisenhuth to St George Illawarra Dragons
 * Cole Geyer to Burleigh Bears
 * Jordan Grant to Penrith Panthers
 * George Jennings to Released
 * Jayden Nikorima to Catalan Dragons
 * Justin Olam to Wests Tigers
 * Aaron Pene to Leigh Leopards (midseason)
 * Tariq Sims to Catalan Dragons

Gains
 * Shawn Blore from Wests Tigers
 * Ativalu Lisati from Penrith Panthers

Representative honours
This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2024.

Statistics
This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 2024 NRL season.


 * Players are added as they play their first game in the season.
 * Table updated as round 20
 * Statistics sources:

Scorers
Most points in a game: 20 Most tries in a game: 3
 * Round 14 – Nick Meaney (2 tries, 6 goals) vs Newcastle Knights
 * Round 8 – Xavier Coates vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

Winning games
Highest score in a winning game: 54 points Lowest score in a winning game: 8 points Greatest winning margin: 34 points Greatest number of games won consecutively: 6
 * Round 8 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
 * Round 1 vs Penrith Panthers
 * Round 8 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
 * Round 14 – Round 20 (current)

Losing games
Highest score in a losing game: 20 points Lowest score in a losing game: 12 points Greatest losing margin: 7 points Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 1
 * Round 12 vs Manly Sea Eagles
 * Round 3 vs Newcastle Knights
 * Round 10 vs Cronulla Sharks

Jerseys
In November 2023, Melbourne Storm announced a new sponsorship and apparel partnership agreement with Irish sportswear company O'Neills, ending the club's relationship with British sportswear company Castore, before the end of the original five-year deal that had been announced in December 2020.


 * Home

Revealed in November 2023, the 2024 home jersey is navy blue with a purple yoke and sleeves. There are bright yellow lightning bolt designs on the side panels, and a revised Big V logo at the top of the rear of the jersey as a continuation of the Our Home, Victoria acknowledgment which began during the 2020 season to honour Storm's home state. This jersey will be worn with navy blue shorts and socks.


 * Away

The away jersey, worn when the home jersey creates a clash with the opposition, is a similar design to the home jersey, with white replacing the navy blue base colour. This jersey will be worn with purple shorts, with white socks.


 * ANZAC Day

Revealed in early April, Melbourne's jersey worn on ANZAC Day featured the team colours of navy blue and purple in a zig-zag pattern that paid homage to design elements at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. The design mimics the sporadic design of trenches dug by soldiers, as well as the Dazzle camouflage employed by Royal Australian Navy vessels in World War I and World War II.


 * Indigenous

Titled "Kerrbooonool" meaning connection in Woiwurrung language, the club's 2024 Indigenous jersey was designed by Letitia Smith, cousin of Reimis Smith. The design includes the hand and footprints of the club's Indigenous players, the Yarra river and a gathering circle. The inner lining of the collar pays tribute to Tony Mundine, former Australian boxer and grandfather of Reimis Smith. The jersey was worn in the NRL's Indigenous Round against Manly in May, and also against Canberra in June.

Trophy Cabinet

 * Michael Moore Trophy (Round 2 & 15)

Junior representative awards
Held at AAMI Park in April, for members of the club's Harold Matthews Cup (U17s) and S.G. Ball Cup (U19s) teams:
 * Junior Representatives Player of the Year: Hugo Peel (St Kevin's College)
 * Greg Brentnall U19s Player of the Year: Chase Paterson (Storm Sunshine Coast Academy)
 * Best Back (U19s): Ioane Lui (Sunbury Tigers)
 * Best Forward (U19s): Harrison Hill (Storm Brisbane Hub)
 * Young Tonumaipea U17s Player of the Year: Waka Hammond (Casey Warriors)
 * Best Back (U17s): Matthew Kereti (Altona Roosters)
 * Best Forward (U17s): Lockyer-Azile Foliolo (Sunbury Tigers)

Additional awards

 * Spirit of ANZAC Medal: Cameron Munster
 * Ken Stephen Medal nominee and NRL Community team of the Year: Young Tonumaipea