NRL 2026: Storm star Xavier Coates to undergo surgery as Zac Lomax pursuit continues

Coates, 24, is one of the most athletic wingers in the world and has scored some of the most spectacular tries throughout his career, with few players able to match his aerial prowess.

But he’s unlikely to be back until round 10 after the club confirmed that he needed surgery to fix an issue from last year’s grand final that prevented him from playing for Australia in the Ashes.

“Xavier has put in a huge amount of work across pre-season and has been able to make positive steps in his recovery,” Storm director of football Frank Ponissi said, with Coates scoring 20 tries from 22 games last season.

“Unfortunately, he has not been able to progress as we would have hoped, and with the season fast approaching, surgery has been determined as the best course of action.

“While it is disappointing for Xavier, we know he will approach the next phase of his rehab with his usual professionalism and hard work, supported by our outstanding medical and performance staff.”

Coates’ injury explains why the Storm have been trying to sign Lomax for the 2026 season, with their advances repeatedly blocked by the Eels who released the rep star last season assuming he would join rebel competition R360.

The start of that league was pushed back to 2028 which left Lomax without a home for this year, but the Eels had a clause in his release that he couldn’t return to the NRL with another club.

The Storm have offered financial compensation to Parramatta, but the Eels wanted a player swap instead, with Coates reportedly one of the three players they would have accepted.

That case is currently before the courts, with the Storm now scrambling to find a Coates replacement.

The news comes on the back of Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona quitting the NRL, Jonah Pezet moved to the Eels and Eli Katoa has been ruled out for 2026 due to a series of head knocks while playing for Tonga.

The back-to-back beaten grand finalists also lost Grant Anderson to the Broncos, with former sevens star Moses Leo an option to play on the wing, while rookie Hugo Peel could be a left field option to play out of position.

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