Coates latest Bronco to leave, joins Storm from 2022
Xavier Coates has become the latest NRL player to knock back an offer to stay at Brisbane, signing a two-year deal with Melbourne.
www.espn.co.ukXavier Coates is currently with Melbourne Storm, with recent updates focusing on an Achilles injury that required surgery and sidelined him for about three months in early 2026. He’s expected to return around Round 10 of the NRL season, depending on rehab progress.
Latest news highlights:
- Injury and surgery: Coates underwent Achilles surgery and was ruled out for roughly three months, with a projected return around mid-season. This was announced by Melbourne Storm’s medical and football staff.
- Career context: Coates joined Melbourne ahead of the 2022 season and has been viewed as a key winger, with the Storm positioning him as a replacement for Josh Addo-Carr when needed.
- 2025 season note: He contributed for Melbourne in 2025, including involvement in the Grand Final, before his 2026 injury and surgery.
If you’d like, I can pull a brief, up-to-date news brief with dates and injury status from the latest reliable outlets and summarize it for you.