On the night of their 2025 awards, the Melbourne Storm honoured their season’s best — and amid a string of farewells, Xavier Coates stood tall, claiming the Cameron Smith Player of the Year award.
The announcement came with confirmation that Grant Anderson, Bronson Garlick, Dean Ieremia, Coby Williamson, and Nelson Asofa-Solomona will depart the club at or soon after the end of the 2025 season.
Below, a look at Coates’s achievement, followed by a tribute to those leaving Melbourne and what their exits might mean for the Storm going into 2026.
Xavier Coates: A season to remember
For Coates, 2025 was another step up in consistency, power, and finishing prowess. He logged 20 tries in 22 appearances during the season, and that form secured him 33 votes to win the Cameron Smith Player of the Year award — ahead of fellow stars Eli Katoa, Stefano Utoikamanu, and Harry Grant.
This is the second time Coates has won the club’s Player of the Year nod (he previously claimed it in 2023).
Additionally, Coates’s impact extended beyond club walls: he earned a place in the Dally M Team of the Year and scored two tries in three State of Origin matches for Queensland.
To ensure his presence remains for seasons to come, Melbourne solidified his future by signing him on through to the end of 2027.
Coates’s aerial ability, speed, and finishing instincts make him a cornerstone for the Storm — a player around whom the club can continue to build, even as other pieces shift.
Departing Stormers: Gratitude, transitions, and legacy
Grant Anderson → Broncos
Grant Anderson has been confirmed to depart Melbourne at season’s end and will join the Brisbane Broncos. Over his time in purple, Anderson showed growth and versatility in the centres, and in 2025 he capped off his Storm tenure by being awarded the club’s Most Improved Player. While his time at Storm was relatively short, Anderson’s move gives him new opportunities, and his departure will require Melbourne to look deeper into their backline depth chart.
Bronson Garlick → Rabbitohs
Bronson Garlick will also depart the club. Garlick’s tenure with the Storm didn’t necessarily feature every week in the NRL side, but he has contributed as a depth option, especially at hooker, and has provided value in training, development, and culture. His exit is part of the inevitable turnover that comes with roster evolution. His father Sean played with South Sydney between 1990 and 1993, with a second stint taking place between 1998 and 1999.
Dean Ieremia → unsigned
Dean Ieremia is leaving the club and, as of the awards night, remains unsigned. Ieremia’s time at Melbourne involved flashes of promise, particularly in wing/edge roles in the extended squad. While he may not have been a weekly starter, his exit reminds us how tight and competitive NRL rosters are — sometimes even good players must seek fresh opportunities elsewhere.
Coby Williamson → unsigned
Similarly, Coby Williamson is departing and currently without a contract. Williamson had featured in Storm’s extended squads and junior pathways. His departure suggests he will now be seeking a new home, possibly at a club where he can secure more regular top-grade minutes.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona → released
Perhaps the most significant exit is Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who was released after a decade of service. Asofa-Solomona joined Melbourne’s junior ranks in 2011 and went on to become a mainstay of their forward pack. Over 215 games for the Storm, he embodied power, toughness, and experience.
His 2025 season was marred by injuries and disciplinary setbacks, and he missed the grand final due to suspension. Storm officials acknowledged his outstanding service during the announcement, lamenting the loss of a player of his calibre and wishing him well in his next chapter.
His release marks the end of an era — Melbourne loses a seasoned leader whose presence in the pack and in the locker room was consistently valuable.
