The Melbourne Storm have confirmed an enormous list of players will depart the club after they were knocked out in this year's preliminary final.
After being the best team all season and taking out the minor premiership on the back of an incredible 19-match winning streak, the Storm were stunned by eventual premiers the Penrith Panthers in the preliminary finals.
The departures of Dale Finucane (Cronulla Sharks), Nicho Hynes (Cronulla Sharks), Josh Addo-Carr (Canterbury Bulldogs), Brenko Lee (Brisbane Broncos), Max King (Canterbury Bulldogs), Aaron Pene (New Zealand Warriors) and Aaron Booth (Gold Coast Titans) were already known, however, the club have added another four players to the list today.
They are young hooker Tyson Smoothy, veteran half Ryley Jacks, 20-year-old five-eighth and Round 25 debutant Daniel Atkinson, and the South Australian Judda Turahui, who was linked with the Canterbury Bulldogs last week.
None of the quartet have a contract for 2022, despite the impressive signs of the three youngsters.
Smoothy has spent time playing at hooker when both Brandon Smith and Harry Grant were out with injury, however, has otherwise struggled to break into the Melbourne system.
Jacks has been used sparingly as a backup half and has the sort of kicking game some clubs in the lower half of the table may look at as a potential option for 2022, while England also looms as an option.
Atkinson and Turahui are both incredibly inexperienced, however, their immense talent would see it a surprise if they weren't picked up.
The only Melbourne player not re-signed, but not officially released by the club is Darryn Schonig.
