The Melbourne Storm have announced that Alec Macdonald and Grant Anderson have both re-signed with the team.
Anderson, an outside back, has secured a one-year extension through to the end of 2025, while Macdonald will stay with the club on a four-year extension until the end of 2028.
At just 22, Auckland-born Macdonald has quickly become a key player in Melbourne’s forward rotation, playing 35 NRL games to date, including 11 off the bench this season. Known for his consistent hard-nosed playing style, he has a 95% tackle success rate this year, along with six offloads and eight tackle breaks.
Macdonald expressed his excitement about the new contract, attributing it to his hard work. “I’m thrilled to have been given a contract for the next few years. It feels like all my hard work has paid off. I can now focus on my footy and improving even more,” he said in a club statement.
He also thanked Tim Glasby and coach Craig Bellamy for their support and expressed his love for the club, its culture, and the Melbourne lifestyle. “When I first came down, Brisbane was home but now I feel that Melbourne is that. I love the club, the culture, and the lifestyle down here,” he added.
Anderson, who made his NRL debut in 2022 during an injury crisis for the Storm, has since played 17 NRL games, with seven of those appearances coming this year. The 24-year-old has also spent time coming off the bench this season and described the club as “a second family.”
“This is my third year here now and I’m thrilled to be here for longer because the club is like a second family,” Anderson said. He recounted his journey from playing under-20s, being picked up by the Northern Pride, and then the Sunshine Coast Falcons, before joining the Storm on a pre-season trial.
“I always dreamed of playing NRL so to be here still doing that is really special. For my family and partner for all the sacrifices and support they have shown to help me along the way, I can’t wait to rip in with the lads,” he added.
