'People have converted': Storm double-down as Victorian expansion gathers pace
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Harry Grant has slowly felt the tide turn.
From his first year in Melbourne as an under 20s player in 2016 to his current role as Storm skipper, the hooker has watched the surge in support for the club in Victoria turn into a tidal wave.
Packed stands at AAMI Park are now a regular occurrence. Local rectangular fields also buzz with junior rugby league players every weekend in a clear sign of the growth at both the elite and grassroots levels.
Success on the field certainly helps, but the shift Grant has noticed is about much more than wins and losses.
Storm officials have made a concerted effort to strengthen ties with the local community, steadily building a supporter base in an AFL-mad town.
First Take: Storm v Eels
"I've definitely noticed the change," Grant told NRL.com. "Rugby league in Melbourne is growing and it's exciting to be a part of.
"There's certainly plenty of people that I talk to or meet that have converted to rugby league and love it. We get so much support at AAMI Park, it's such a great place to play."
Match: Storm v Eels
Round 1 -
home Team
Storm
away Team
Eels
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
The Storm will open their 2026 campaign with a showdown against new rivals Parramatta on Thursday night.
The two teams have sparred off the field as the Zac Lomax saga dragged on this summer but will now have the chance to face off on the field in front of a big crowd at AAMI Park.
History will be made a couple of hours before kick-off when the club's reserve grade side takes to the field.
It will mark the first time the Storm have fielded a club-run NSW Cup team and completes the pathway from under 17s through to the NRL.
The club has also invested in their women's pathways and have established under 17 and under 19 girls teams for the first time this year. The long-term goal is to have a Melbourne NRLW side.
The investment in pathways has led to some subtle, and not so subtle, shifts in the club's standing throughout Victoria.
Crowds at AAMI Park have grown considerably in the past few years, with grassroots participation also surging.
Grant also notices the little acts that highlight the club's rise. Gone are the days when Robbie Kearns or Billy Slater could walk the streets of Melbourne unnoticed. Grant is now an instantly recognisable face for most Victorians.
The number of people decked out in Storm merchandise has also grown, with caps and scarves a regular sight on trams and around the city.
All the angles: THAT Harry Grant match winner!
The current skipper credits the work of the club's founders nearly three decades ago for laying the foundation for success and instilling a culture that has allowed the Storm to flourish.
"The guys that started the club always respected and did the right thing by the community," Grant said. "They wanted to play well and put themselves in a position where the community would get around them and support them.
"That's what's happened and it's grown from there. Now we're reaping the rewards of that commitment today."
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy will put his 23-year Round 1 winning streak on the line on Thursday night when his side takes on the Eels.
The Storm have endured plenty of challenges in the months following a heartbreaking grand final loss to Brisbane last October.
Grant: It's about what's next now
Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jonah Pezet have all left, with Pezet to line up for the Eels on Thursday. Eli Katoa will also sit out the 2026 season after suffering a brain injury playing for Tonga in the Pacific Championships.
While the pain of two-straight grand final defeats lingers, Grant said the off-season changes have provided added motivation to go one better this year.
"We addressed the grand final and what we could learn from it," Grant said. "At the end of the day, you'd be silly not to learn from that opportunity. Any way you can learn as a player, person and club, you'd be silly not to.
"It has been a different off-season but everyone that comes in has a role, they're expected to do their role and do it to the best of their ability. It's been refreshing having a number of young guys step up and want to earn that respect."
