Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy described the team’s current injury situation as unprecedented in his nearly 25 years in the NRL, following a 30-4 loss to Manly that left the club three wins outside the top eight ahead of this week’s bye. The defeat was compounded by three players—Moses Leo, Joe Chan, and Ativalu Lisati—exiting the field due to injury. Leo suffered a head knock, Chan was sidelined with back spasms, and Lisati incurred a syndesmosis injury after a tackle from Manly’s Joey Walsh, which also led to Walsh being sin-binned. Lisati was seen leaving the ground wearing a moon boot.
The Storm’s depth in the backline is currently stretched thin, with several players already unavailable. Xavier Coates is sidelined with an Achilles injury, Jack Howarth with a quadriceps strain, Nick Meaney with a calf injury, and Manaia Waitere with an ankle issue. Additionally, star halfback Jahrome Hughes is out due to a hamstring strain. The club has lost two players for the season with serious health concerns: Eli Katoa, who is recovering from a brain bleed, and Tui Kamikamica, sidelined following a stroke.
Bellamy acknowledged the severity and unusual nature of the injuries affecting his squad this season. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the injury toll that we’ve had this year,” he said, referring to the uncommon circumstances surrounding Katoa and Kamikamica's conditions. “Other sides go through it, so we just need to learn to navigate that.” The coach expressed frustration over the team’s inconsistent performance, noting that despite a strong second half in the latest match, the first half fell short of expectations.
In response to the mounting injuries and limited options, Melbourne Storm have secured signings for next season, bringing in Jamayne Isaako and Oryn Keeley. The club is also reportedly finalizing a deal for Canterbury Bulldogs winger Bronson Xerri. There are indications that Storm will attempt to accelerate the arrival of Keeley and Xerri ahead of the approaching June 30 transfer deadline.
Bellamy commented on the potential new acquisitions, expressing hope the signings will help “bolster our depth.” However, he remained uncertain about the status of the deals, stating, “I’m not quite sure what’s happened with those two guys or any other guys for that matter. June 30 is not far away. I’m not quite up with what’s happening with Bronson or Oryn, so hopefully the next couple of days we’ll find out.”
As the Storm face a challenging period, both on and off the field, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining how the team addresses its injury crisis and maintains competitiveness for the remainder of the season.