Melbourne young gun Cooper Clarke has been rewarded for his meteoric rise into the NRL, with the Storm handing the 19-year-old a new long-term contract. The teenage sensation has signed a three-year extension with Craig Bellamy‘s side that will keep him at Melbourne until at least the end of the 2029 season, and ward off interest from rival clubs.
Clarke has been one of the revelations for the Storm this season after making his NRL debut in Melbourne’s thumping Round 1 win over the Eels. The hulking forward has played in all four games for Melbourne and has made a massive impact coming off the bench, to help fill the giant hole left by the departure of Nelson Asofa-Solomona and the loss of rep back-rower Eli Katoa (brain surgery) for the 2026 season.
Craig Bellamy’s Melbourne Storm have locked down NRL young gun Cooper Clarke on a new long-term deal. Pic: Getty
The Storm have had huge raps on the towering youngster since he came up through Melbourne’s pathways system. Clarke won the Jersey Flegg premiership with the Storm’s U/21 side last year and was also named the club’s SG Ball player of the year for their U/19 team.
And he’s made a seamless step up to first grade this year to cement himself in Bellamy’s best 17, after an off-season of upheaval at the club. Storm director of Football Frank Ponissi said Clarke’s contract extension is a just reward for his hard work and incredible development, and is excited for what the future holds with the young gun locked down long-term.
Melbourne Storm ‘excited’ to extend young gun Cooper Clarke
“Cooper is a young forward we’re really excited about. He’s earned his first-grade opportunity this season through hard work and made significant improvements to his game over the off-season,” Ponissi said.
“He’s a great competitor with a terrific attitude and a strong willingness to learn, and we’re looking forward to his continued development in a Melbourne Storm jersey over the coming years.”
Clarke’s new deal keeps him out of the clutches of rival clubs such as the Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs, who are on the lookout for talented youngsters in the mould of the Storm middle forward. The Bears are busily building their maiden roster before they enter the competition next year, while the Chiefs will have to wait until November 1 before they can start assembling their maiden NRL squad ahead of the 2028 season.
Cooper Clarke is seen here in action for the Storm during an NRL pre-season match against Canberra. Pic: Getty
(Mark Nolan via Getty Images)
The 19-year-old revealed recently that he once tipped the scales at 145kg at his heaviest. But Clarke’s focus on fitness and hard work under Bellamy has paid off handsomely, and the young wrecking ball has trimmed down without losing his impact up front for Melbourne.
“He is a kid that has worked hard for it as well,” Bellamy said before handing Clarke his NRL debut earlier this year. “It was mentioned that when he first came into the Under 19s he was 145kg. That is a big boy, so he has certainly worked hard to get down to the weight he is now and to be playing good footy.”