The Melbourne Storm has shut the gate on the Dolphins by locking away Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant on long-term contracts and also re-signing star recruit Xavier Coates.
The Dolphins, who will enter the NRL as the league’s 17th team from next season, were rumoured to have been interested in securing Grant and Hughes’ services, but on Friday the Storm confirmed the stars would be staying put.
Hughes and Coates will remain with the Storm until at least the end of the 2026, while Grant has inked an extension that expires at the end of the 2025 season.
The recently re-signed trio have joined fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, co-captain Christian Welch and emerging star Jack Howarth in inking long-term contracts with the Storm since the start of last year.
“To have players the calibre of Harry, Jahrome and Xavier all committed to our club for a long period gives us great confidence heading into the future,” said Storm chairman Matt Tripp, who announced the re-signings at the club’s 2012 premiership reunion on Friday.
“We now have a quality spine, our skipper, an exciting winger and some great young talent all locked away for a few years.
“We know the three are quality players and, more importantly, quality people. We are proud of the strong culture we have built across the entire club and will always work hard to keep good people.”
“We have a core group of players who have now signed up for a few extra years which definitely helped with my decision,” Grant said.
“If we can keep that core group together for a long period of time, it only helps with getting the success we all want.
“The club gave me an opportunity when I started with under 20s and then again when I was on loan at Wests Tigers, so to come back and get the opportunity to stay longer is really exciting.” Grant said.
The re-signings spell trouble for the NRL’s 17th team.
The Dolphins have managed to sign the likes of Felise Kaufusi, Mark Nicholls, Jamayne Isaako and the Bromwich broxjmtzywthers for next season but are still searching for a proven first grader to steer the ship from the halves.
Matt Moylan, Lachlan Lam, Sean O’Sullivan, Albert Kelly and Ashley Taylor are among the remaining NRL playmakers whose contracts expire at the end of the season.
Wayne Bennett’s side is also on the lookout for a tried-and-tested starting hooker. The club has lured Parramatta utility Ray Stone who has spent time at nine but appears unlikely to take the role on full-time.
Now that Grant, Hughes and Coates have recommitted, the Storm’s attention turns to Craig Bellamy, who has yet to determine whether he will coach the side next year.
Bellamy signed a contract extension last year that will keep him at the Storm until 2026, but the 62 year-old has the option to transition out of the head coaching role from the end of this season.
Club legend Billy Slater has been backed as a potential replacement should Bellamy choose to step down.
