Two familiar faces have re-signed with Melbourne Storm on train and trial contracts for the 2023 NRL season.
Outside back Young Tonumaipea (Storm player #154) and utility forward Chris Lewis (#201) rejoined their teammates for training this week, bringing to five the number of players with train and trial contracts for Storm.
The list also includes Coles First Nations Pathways Program graduate AJ Gudgeon and forward Bronson Garlick, who have season-long deals, and Sunshine Coast Falcons front-rower Lazarus Vaalepu, who is with the club through to the end of 2022.
Tonumaipea returned to Storm midway through last season following a four-year absence and played two NRL matches to take his career tally to 55.
Lewis debuted for Storm in 2020 and has gone on to make a total of 41 appearances, including 16 in 2022.
Sua Fa’alogo and Cole Geyer continue as development contract players with Melbourne for the 2023 season, while Tristan Powell has joined from the Burleigh Bears to start a two-year contract.
Fa’alogo, a Northern Thunder junior, was Storm’s Feeder Club Player of the Year in 2022 after progressing to the Hostplus Cup with the Falcons, while Geyer won the under-21s Darren Bell Medal for his work at hooker for the Victorian Thunderbolts in the NSWRL Jersey Flegg competition.
Powell, who hails from Goondiwindi, played 16 matches for Burleigh in the Hostplus Cup, predominantly as a middle forward, and has spent time with the Gold Coast Titans.
