Xavier Coates was quick to own the Melbourne Storm wing in his first season in purple.
Entering his fourth year in first-grade, Round 1 saw Coates make his Storm debut in emphatic fashion with a memorable first try for his new club.
Finishing the year with a total 16 tries, the winger secured the crown as the Club’s top try scorer of the year. Going over the line in nine of his 17 appearances, Coates pulled off two hat tricks throughout the year. Storm and Warriors' annual ANZAC Day clash saw him go on to perform a quadruple try bonanza, racking up 16 of the purple pride’s 70 points.
Halfway through his untouchable first season in Melbourne, the winger was selected to represent Queensland in his sixth straight State of Origin. However, an ankle injury in the first half of the series opener saw Coates sidelined for seven rounds, his first long-term injury.
Finding home in Melbourne and further solidifying his place in the Storm contingent, Coates has since committed to remaining in the purple jersey to the end of 2026.
Rounding out his season with an overall 4 try assists, 29 tackle breaks, 13 line breaks and 77 tackles, Xavier Coates will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the Storm attack for 2023.
