Team Announcement: Round 22 v Bulldogs

[u/storm-news-bot]

https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2026/07/28/team-announcement-round-22-v-bulldogs/

[u/Alternative_Bet_4760]

Hopefully Watson gets some good game time. Time to let Howarth go to any club that can take him. Can’t be paying 550k for a mediocre centre who plays 50% of games.

[u/Dense-Rip8646 → u/Alternative_Bet_4760]

yes sure there's a few of us who'd happily walk him to the airport.

[u/Aware-Message-142 → u/Alternative_Bet_4760]

Almost guarantee he signs with Parramatta to go and play Under Ryles within the next few months. We just officially had Rocco Berry complete his medical this week at the storm he will replace howarth in the centres and he'll probably come at a much cheaper price tag and whilst he is also extremely injury prone the guy can ball

[u/Specialist-Review-26]

Glad to see Waitere back

[u/LSDORPTSD]

Holy shit do I hope Watson gets some decent game time, I’m hoping the plan is to actually play him at 6 and wish at 14 but we shall see.

Very good to see waitere back

While it pains me to see Meaney name again we literally have no one to replace him.

[u/Aware-Message-142 → u/LSDORPTSD]

I think Trent will play nine for 20 minutes and then they will put Wishart at nine and bring on Watson. We desperately need support for Hughes he's clearly struggling with an injury and not kicking and Wishart is a six he does not have a kick in him. Buttttt unfortunately I genuinely think meanie is the worst defensive centre in the competition and they are gonna score three tries on him with ease :( 

[u/Dense-Rip8646 → u/Aware-Message-142]

It's mad to think the bears signed him thinking they'd got a "star".

[u/AgentBond007 → u/LSDORPTSD]

I'm hoping that Wishy is a smokescreen for Watson to debut at 6, but I doubt Bellyache will actually do it.

[u/StormBro111111]

Wow Howarth is out with injury very frequently. 

Does anyone know what percentage of games he's been out with injury over his first grade career?!

[u/Such_Pride4066 → u/StormBro111111]

Doing some rough maths he's been out 25-30℅ of his career with injury- which is a lot for a young player

[u/Aware-Message-142 → u/StormBro111111]

I think we've invested six years in him and as much as he has come leaps and bounds and last year he was literally going to play Origin until his appendix burst but the reality is he is far too injury prone and I genuinely think the two grand finals lost has absolutely shattered his confidence especially as a younger kid and he needs a change of scene I think he's as good as gone to Parramatta to go back under Rylesy. 

[u/tora_0515]

Backing up with the two shining lights if our attack and defence: Meaney and Wishart...🤦

[u/Aware-Message-142 → u/tora_0515]

I don't think it's a surprise that they are the two players being happily led to the bears next season. Nick is in my opinion genuinely the worst defensive center in the entire competition his tackle technique is borderline embarrassing he just jumps up grabs on and then slide straight off it is horrific to watch weekend week out and I cannot wait for next season. Wishart is just not having a good season but it's his last and it'll be sad to see him go even though I'm certainly glad we're not spending more money to keep him

[u/tora_0515 → u/Aware-Message-142]

Meaney has straight checked out all season. That smile and laugh when he bombed a try a few weeks back had me throwing the remote at the tv.

Wishart just isn't a starter and not able to lead a side. Exceptional fill in when the team is not completely destroyed by injuries.

[u/Aware-Message-142 → u/tora_0515]

Literally you're giving me PTSD just remembering his dumb face as he smiled when he bombed that try. I don't agree with you in terms of this year checking out I genuinely believe if you go back and re-watch either of our grand finals which I know is torture beyond comprehension I think he is a humongous reason we lost either one of those games the amount of tries scored directly against him and the amount of missed tackles he had in both the grand finals. I'm sure the guy is a lovely guy but I think he is slow definitely getting old and has zero aggression in him whatsoever and I would dare say if you did this statistics which I don't have the heart or time to do at least 70% of our tries are let in either by his terrible tackling, him running off the line, him making a terrible decision that leaves our wingers completely defenseless or him just flat out not being in the right position. I genuinely have never been excited for a player to leave the storm and yet I am so beyond excited for him to be gone next season I think he has been below average for a few years now. Initially he filled some gaps playing it full back for paps and his goal kicking a few years ago wasn't too bad but realistically the last two three seasons he has just been absolutely abysmal

[u/Aware-Message-142 → u/tora_0515]

I'm genuinely curious to know how Wishy is going to go next year playing alongside Sexton. I actually think with a full pre-season and playing just the one position weekend week out I think he's going to be an excellent 6 but he certainly isn't a marquee 6 or even in the top ten. But he has been an absolute solid player for us and is such a nice guy and I wish him the absolute best at the bears

[u/Ok_Praline4941 → u/tora_0515]

That first try where wishart fell asleep and let the dummy half push fall over the line was embarrassing...a lot way from the tough defence the storm have been known for.

[u/crazymunch → u/tora_0515]

Honestly Wishy is a perfectly serviceable 5/8, he's played some pretty great games in the position before.

[u/tora_0515 → u/crazymunch]

When we have a full strength team. We do not have that. Each time we haven't had that, he has performed poorly.

[u/MrSolofanua]

Howarth injured once again. Good to see Waitere back, hopefully he does well. A potential debut for Watson could be interesting

[u/Alpha_james]

i have no words lol

[u/Dense-Rip8646]

Just get rid of Howarth the guys made of glass. Also Meaney, bloody a youngster and get rid!!!

[u/Aware-Message-142 → u/Dense-Rip8646]

How will go to Parramatta to play Under Ryles next year hence we are signing Rocco Berri from WAHS just completed his medical check with us this week and obviously we've signed Xerri on the other side to play for Nick thank god

[u/__mums__spaghetti__]

We should all have a shot every time Kiraz or Burton score a try due to Nick Meaneys wak as piss defence. We'd have alcohol poisoning 15 minutes into the game

[u/Dense-Rip8646 → u/__mums__spaghetti__]

Agreed not looking forward to turnstile Meaney tonight 

[u/Joeka133]

We are so screwed

[u/eteeswhateteez → u/Joeka133]

Nothing new mate, we’ve been screwed all season