LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Melbourne Storm is facing challenges after experiencing back-to-back Grand Final losses, leading some fans to doubt their ability to overcome these hurdles.
Despite offseason departures of crucial players, Storm captain Harry Grant remains optimistic about the team's prospects for the 2026 season.
Under the leadership of coach Craig Bellamy, the Storm has struggled to secure a premiership in recent years, suffering defeats to the Penrith Panthers in the 2024 Grand Final and losing a 22-12 halftime lead against the Brisbane Broncos in the 2025 finale, ultimately falling 26-22.
In a recent conversation following his recognition as the 2025 International Rugby League Golden Boot winner, awarded to the men's representative player of the year, Grant expressed his awareness of the significant challenges ahead for the Storm but remained confident in their ability to tackle them.
"It's a big challenge and every year's a challenge; every team's going to face a challenge to get themselves in the right position through pre-season, get themselves fit, healthy, ready to go for the start of the season," Grant told NRL.com.
"Then obviously the season's a challenge in itself, the length of it, the unpredictability of it and all the things that come with it, so it's always a challenge.
"But I think if there's one thing about the Melbourne Storm, it's always to embrace that and really go after that."