Storm forced into late change after star's injury blow

Melbourne skipper Harry Grant will miss the Storm's Good Friday game against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium after suffering a hamstring injury at training. Grant has been ruled out of Craig Bellamy's match-day squad with Bronson Garlick named as the replacement at hooker. Kane Bradley joins the bench. Speaking during Nine's Thursday night NRL coverage, sideline reporter Danika Mason confirmed the injury but said its severity was still unknown. Storm legend Cameron Smith is concerned about how his former side may go. "I think this is the first game Harry Grant has missed in quite some time," he said. "This is going to be a really tough one for Melbourne." Jeremy Marshall-King is also a late scratching for the Dolphins' side, with a laceration on the hooker's leg still healing. Marshall-King suffered the gash against Penrith last week. The wound was reportedly so deep that it required 20 stitches to close. Kurt Donoghue will start in Marshall-King's place, with Ray Stone joining the bench.

Enforcer finds new home after early Dragons exit

Francis Molo has been granted an immediate release from his Dragons contract and will link up with the Dolphins. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the club made a decision at a board meeting on Tuesday, with the front-rower free to leave after a lengthy dispute. Molo had not attended St George Illawarra training for a number of weeks and has not featured in the side's first two games of the season. It has been reported that Molo will be forced to repay a six-figure sum to the Dragons. The 30-year-old had previously extended his deal with the Red V until the end of next season, but will now head to Redcliffe on a multi-year agreement. It's believed a rift between Molo and the club stemmed from a comment relating to alcohol, which the former State of Origin enforcer has abstained from in recent years. It's a major boost for the Dolphins, who are still without Tom Flegler due to injury and aren't expecting the front-rower back until later in the season. St George Illawarra last week signed David Klemmer until the end of 2025, while also releasing Fijian winger Mikaele Ravalawa to the Rabbitohs.

'Hard reset' needed for boom star to lift Dolphins

The Dolphins showed in their first two seasons that on their day, they are capable of matching even the best teams in the NRL. But the challenge for new coach Kristian Woolf and his troops is to find a way to make those days come more often in 2025. In both their previous campaigns under Wayne Bennett, the Dolphins were in the top eight at the halfway mark of the season only to fall away under the pressure of a long season. Woolf hasn't mucked around since taking over, getting rid of a host of dead wood and bringing in four players who will add depth and strength in Junior Tupou (Wests Tigers), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Cowboys), Daniel Saifiti (Knights) and Max Feagai (Dragons). In Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, the Dolphins have much more than one of the NRL's glamour players. 'The Hammer' is arguably the most dangerous player in the game with the football in hand in his own half, regularly scoring 70 and 80 metre tries with his electric pace. The outside backs are the Dolphins' strength - Herbie Farnworth is as good as any centre in the league while Jack Bostock, Jake Averillo and Jamayne Isaako are all noted tryscorers. Halves Kodi Nikorima and Isaiya Katoa can be a little hot/cold but if the forwards lay the foundation, they are capable of giving their outside men time and space. Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King is a classy No.9 out of dummy half and the pack are all hard workers capable of rattling the more fancied teams in the race.

2025 gains: Junior Tupou (Wests Tigers), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Cowboys), Daniel Saifiti (Knights), Max Feagai (Dragons).

2025 losses: Tevita Pangai Junior (Catalans), Edrick Lee (retired), Euan Aitken (Rabbitohs), Jarrod Wallace (retired), Jesse Bromwich (retired), Tesi Niu (Leigh Leopards), Valynce Te Whare (Japanese rugby), Jeremiah Simbiken (Castleford Tigers), Anthony Milford (unsigned), Robert Jennings (unsigned).