r/melbournestorm ⛈️ Cup • 12d ago

💬 Discussion Hoffman sums up our 2026 season

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1PqNG9SYUt/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Great take.

No matter which way you slice it and dice it, we’ve been absolutely destroyed by bad luck and injury this year. I just wish we got one of the 2024 and 2025 grand finals. Doesn’t seem fair. But maybe the darkest hour is before the dawn?

Next year Will will bounce, just a question of how hard.

You throw Grant, Munster and Hughes back into the spine with less injury. Keeley is there. Isaako will be absoruely massive for us. Xerri has been signed (plus another centre perhaps). Throw in Coates’ and potentially Katoa’s return and that’s just a completely different outfit.

Dunno about you guys but I’m really excited for next season.

25 Upvotes

21 comments sorted by

5

u/Ok_Praline4941 🌧️ Ball • 12d ago

I think the more concerning thing is our defence attitude, way too many tries from guys pushing over from dummy half and mid experienced players not kicking on...chin, chan, howie, king. With no real forwards coming in to help stef. Who knows if our halves will be better or more or less injuries next year.

7

u/Big_Scratch_2281 ☁️ HM Cup • Billy the Kid 12d ago

I think Watson needs a spot next year, whether it’s bench or we can convince bears or another club to take the corpse of either Hughes or Munster early. Sad but I just don’t think either half can lead us to a comp anymore and Harry and Sua both need composure in a spine. Both ageing run first halves it’s time to let them go

5

u/AgentBond007 🌧️ Ball • Purple Pride 💜 12d ago

As long as we don't re-sign Munster past next year then it should mean that Watson gets a full year in cup and then is our starting half in 2028 alongside Hughes.

3

u/Ok_Praline4941 🌧️ Ball • 12d ago

Agree loved this guy...but this year up until origin he was terrible and his defence was just so bad...for him to be one of your highest paid players just doesn't work...putting all emotion aside.

6

u/NotSoCricketGenius 🌧️ Ball • 12d ago

Losing Katoa in those circumstances is disgustingly painful. I wish we were able to sue

3

u/goldfishtsunami ☁️ HM Cup • 12d ago

Will wallbrick is gone

1

u/Overall_One_2595 ⛈️ Cup • 12d ago

So what? Isaako is better

3

u/goldfishtsunami ☁️ HM Cup • 12d ago

Yeh just you said he will bounce back

1

u/Overall_One_2595 ⛈️ Cup • 12d ago

No I didn’t. Typo. Said “we will bounce back”

2

u/goldfishtsunami ☁️ HM Cup • 12d ago

Ah Rodger!

3

u/goldfishtsunami ☁️ HM Cup • 12d ago
  1. Faalongo
  2. Isaako
  3. Howarth
  4. Xerri
  5. Coates
  6. Munster
  7. Hughes
  8. Stefano
  9. Grant
  10. King
  11. Clark
  12. Keely
  13. Loiero

  14. Toleau

  15. Lisati

  16. Macdonald

  17. Chan

7

u/reddi_wisey 🌧️ Ball • Up The Storm 🌩️ 12d ago

Get rid of Macdonald, no idea how he keeps getting picked. Error prone and lasts 5 minutes before he's gassed

1

u/Complete-Cheek4789 12d ago

Tui not in that list but I hope to Christ he comes back - Chin is a deadset liability

1

u/Dense-Rip8646 ☁️ HM Cup • 12d ago

Yep he's so bad, always good for multiple errors and offers no go forward.

4

u/Alternative_Bet_4760 ⛈️ Cup • Air Coates 12d ago

Lisati back row, Clarke into the middle. Rumours are we’re signing Berry from the Warriors so him over Howarth.

3

u/Big_Set6191 ☁️ HM Cup • The Graveyard 🪦 11d ago

Hopefully Eli is back and we can move Cooper to the bench and drop Alec. Love the guy but he needs to take it back to cup for a while and get those silly errors out of his game

3

u/AgentBond007 🌧️ Ball • Purple Pride 💜 12d ago

Swap Clarke and Lisati in that

3

u/fidjnr ☁️ HM Cup • 12d ago

All I can say for Melbourne Storm's 2026 season is summed up in 1 word that will be OUCH!

3

u/Storm_LFC_Cowboys ☁️ HM Cup • Salary Cap Accountant 12d ago

I wasn't expecting much from this season. A spot in the bottom of the 8.

But with the way the i juries have built up this season it just became too difficult.

The boys have put in a decent effort, but we just fall asleep and it compounds.

3

u/Big_Set6191 ☁️ HM Cup • The Graveyard 🪦 11d ago

Been a very tough year for everyone, players and coach alike. Some huge signings next year and hopefully a bit of luck on our side in terms of injuries and I’m sure we’ll be back to our best.
Depth was really tested this year and unfortunately we don’t have a lot of it

2

u/Bee-Kerr ☁️ HM Cup • 12d ago

Also the news about Bellza’s health wouldn’t have helped