LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Melbourne Storm have begun negotiations with four key players-Ryan Papenhuyzen, Harry Grant, Xavier Coates, and Jahrome Hughes-who are set to be off-contract at the end of next season.
According to zerotackle.com, these players can negotiate with rival clubs starting November 1 if they are not signed, prompting the Storm to act swiftly to retain them.
The upcoming seasons pose a risk for the Storm as players whose contracts expire at the end of 2026 and 2027 may attract interest from new teams entering the competition, specifically the Perth Bears in 2027 and a Papua New Guinea-based side in 2028.
These new franchises will require 30 players each in the year leading up to their inaugural pre-seasons, which increases the likelihood of player poaching.
This situation follows last season's departure of several Storm stars to the Dolphins, who joined as the league's 17th team.
Reports from News Corp suggest that the potential retention of these players could cost the Storm up to $10 million, potentially marking one of the most expensive retention efforts in the sport's history.
The Storm is motivated to prevent similar poaching raids in the future and to maintain their competitive roster.