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.ukHere’s the latest you can use right now.
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Xavier Coates underwent Achilles surgery in February 2026 and was expected to be sidelined for about three months, with a potential return around Round 10 of the NRL season [source indicates injury update from Melbourne Storm dated February 19, 2026] .
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He re-signed with Melbourne Storm through 2027, announced in September 2025, and remained with the club through early 2026 before his Achilles surgery .
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Prior to the injury, Coates had joined Melbourne Storm from Brisbane Broncos in 2022 and was viewed as a key winger replacement for the Storm’s departing players .
If you’d like, I can pull more recent items as they appear (e.g., any updates on his recovery timeline or return-to-play details) and summarize them with direct quotes.