Departing Storm star in tears after devastating injury

Will Warbrick has likely played his final game for the Melbourne Storm after he was helped off the field with a serious Achilles injury via a medicab on Friday night.

Just as Billy Smith crashed over the tryline to put the Roosters in front 8-0, Warbrick went down nearby clutching at his lower leg in visible pain.

The Melbourne winger was shuffling towards the edge in preparation for a potential pass by Smith out to Daniel Tupou when he stumbled and hit the deck.

Storm great Billy Slater recognised that no nearby players had made contact with Warbrick when he hit the deck, with a replay confirming he had stumbled over his own feet.

“It is never good when there is no one near them and they do something like that,” Phil Gould said in commentary on Nine.

“He grabbed at it straight away. Best wishes to him.”

The severity of the injury was too much for Warbrick to get back to his feet on his own, with referee Gerard Sutton signalling that a medicab would be required.

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Trainers then helped place Warbrick on a medicab, with teammates coming over to offer their best wishes to him as he departed the field.

He was later seen in the team’s changing rooms wearing a moon boot.

Warbrick inked a three-year deal in March to join the Warriors from 2027.

“His career at the Storm is over, that is why he was so upset,” Jillaroos great Ruan Sims said.

“We are sending our best to him.”

Slater added: “He has been a great servant. He came from New Zealand rugby and transitioned beautifully into one of the premier wingers of the competition.”

Warbrick’s injury adds to the long list of players out of action for Craig Bellamy, which includes star playmakers Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster.

The Storm also lost Xavier Coates, a winger also, to an Achilles injury this season.

“It is not great [to see Warbrick leave like that],” Bellamy told reporters post-game.

“With the two wingers we had at the start of the year, they are some of the best in the game, and we lost both to the same injury, a severe injury.

“It is a shame for Will to end his career [at Melbourne] on that note. He was tremendous for us.

“But I’m sure he will have great success at the Warriors.”

Harry Grant was unaware how severe Warbrick’s injury was until he saw the medicab.

He admits Warbrick’s absence will be dearly missed by the team.

“He is a real athlete, a good teammate and a real club man,” Grant said.

“We are going to miss him at the club and also in the locker room.

“We have to make [his last weeks at the club] enjoyable and memorable. Now we just have to show our support and stay with him.”

While the injuries continue to cause havoc for the Storm, Tyran Wishart insisted the playing group was still in good spirits.

“The first period where we lost seven in a row stunned us a little bit,” he told Nine.

“We got back to what we were good at after, and we did get some troops back which helped, but Warbrick is a big loss for us.

“At the end of the day, the next player that needs to stand up will. We just have to roll with the punches and get on with the next job.”