Melbourne Storm has confirmed Will Warbrick will depart the Club at the end of the 2026 NRL season.
The winger will bring his Storm career to a close to pursue a new opportunity at the New Zealand Warriors for the 2027 season.
Warbrick joined Storm in 2022 after switching codes from rugby union 7s, where he represented New Zealand and won a silver medal with the All Blacks 7s at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Making his NRL debut in Round 1 2023, Warbrick has since made 60 appearances in the purple jersey, scoring 43 tries and establishing himself as a key member of Melbourne’s backline.
Melbourne Storm CEO Justin Rodski thanked Warbrick for his contribution to the Club.
“Will has been a fantastic Storm person since making the switch to rugby league in 2022. His athleticism, professionalism and willingness to learn the game quickly has been a real asset to the Club,” Rodski said.
“While we’re disappointed to see Will leave at the end of the year, we fully respect his decision to return to New Zealand and be closer to his family and wider community.
“We know he’ll give everything to the purple jersey for the remainder of the 2026 season, and we look forward to his continued impact.”
Speaking on his departure, Warbrick thanked the Storm family and reaffirmed his commitment to finishing the 2026 season strongly.
“I’m extremely grateful to the Club, my teammates, coaches and staff for the support they’ve given me and my family during my time in Melbourne.
“I’ve loved representing Storm and wearing the purple jersey, the Club has played a huge role in my development as a person, both on and off the field.
“I appreciate their understanding and respect around my decision to return to New Zealand for family reasons. My full focus now is doing everything I can to contribute to the team and ensuring we live up to the standards and goals we set for 2026.”
