Melbourne will keep captain and starting rake Harry Grant in purple for a further two years, with the club landing a much-needed re-signing after watching Ryan Papenhyuzen and Jonah Pezet head out the door this offseason.
The Storm dynasty has been slowly bleeding since the November 1 signing date came and went, losing Pezet to the Broncos (and first the Eels) and allowing Papenhyuzen to break his contract early for “other opportunities.”
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The southern club has been in most danger of losing its stars, with Grant and Cameron Munster both heavily linked to expansion club the Perth Bears since the team lost the 2025 NRL grand final to the Brisbane Broncos. Jahrome Hughes has already re-signed into the 2030s, but that too led to Pezet leaving and Tyran Wishart exploring his future options.
Then there’s the Eli Katoa injury, with that worrying news leaving the Storm short in the pack.
And so, Grant’s re-signing was a much-needed victory, for both parties. The deal will see Grant stay in Melbourne to at least 2028, and is understood to be on around the same $850,000 a season he earned this year.
“It’s a great feeling to have my future confirmed,” Grant said.
“I feel incredibly privileged to captain this club and wear the purple jersey in front of our members and fans. This club has always been built on great people, and being… surrounded by them brings out the best in me, on and off-field.”
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Grant missed the Storm’s 2020 grand final win because he was on loan to the Wests Tigers, and played in both the club’s 2024 and 2025 losses; a sting that’s driving him and the club to go one further next year, he said. “We have a great group of players, coaches and staff and a strong leadership team determined to push our club to bigger things in 2026.”
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“To have Harry commit until 2028 is a massive boost, not just for our playing group, but for our entire organisation and our passionate fans,” Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said. “His determination to keep improving, be a role model for our younger players, and lead Storm toward sustained success makes him the ideal person to drive our club forward.
“We’re delighted Harry will remain in purple until at least 2028.”
