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The early signs are that Melbourne can conquer the latest challenge to their era of NRL dominance, coming through losing the core of their forward pack.

If any coach can find a way to cover the massive loss of almost 800 games' experience from the forward pack, it's Craig Bellamy.

In his 20 seasons the Melbourne Storm coach has shown an unrivalled ability to turn fringe NRL first-graders into world beaters and also identify the next wave of talent - and the signs are already looking positive in 2023.

Melbourne suffered their biggest turnover of starting players at the end of last year, losing representative quartet Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, Brandon Smith and Felise Kaufusi to rival clubs, who between them had played 791 games.

Some tipped the departure of the highly-rated veterans, including skipper Jesse, to be the biggest challenge to the Storm's era of dominance.

However Bellamy's smart recruitment and emerging talent already at the club means Melbourne look well-positioned to continue as a premiership force.

In their final pre-season trial against the Warriors, 21-year-old Trent Loiero was their top tackler while another second-rower, 20-year-old Joe Chan, who is son of former Storm forward Alex Chan, also impressed.

Chan was lured from French-based Super League club Catalans, where he made his professional debut.

Back-row signing Eliesa Katoa, who never reached his expected heights at the Warriors, was first on the scoreboard while Storm regular Nelson Asofa-Solomona did plenty of damage in his first outing post World Cup.

Aaron Pene has returned to Melbourne from the Warriors while Queensland Origin prop Christian Welch is also fighting fit after rupturing his Achilles in round one last year.

They have newly re-signed Tui Kamikamica and Tepai Moeroa both tipping over 110kg while another rugby league name, Bronson Garlick, son of Sean, looks to have settled in as back-up hooker to Harry Grant.

Melbourne's biggest name recruit is ex-Dragons hard man Tariq Sims, who missed the trials through a calf injury.

The 33-year-old NSW Origin forward, who has played 221 at three clubs, will add some vital experience amongst the youngsters.

Hopeful of being fit for their round one clash with Parramatta, Sims said the move had already been a "shot in the arm" for his career.

"I'm here to challenge myself, and the opportunity to play under Craig and his coaching staff and to play alongside some of the players that we've got here," Sims told AAP.

"It's been a breath of fresh air ... coming here has been a real shot in the arm in terms of motivation to play at a high level in the NRL."

Despite his 13 years in the game Sims said he felt he'd already learnt plenty before even taking the field and had been surprised by the level of intensity at training.

"I was very shocked at the amount of detail that goes into not only videos of training, but training itself," he said.

"Just seeing how invested the coaching staff, not only Craig, is in the the team.

"Their drive to be better coaches definitely motivates us players ... that was a really big stand-out for me."

Sims acknowledged the quality of the players who had departed the club but said the pre-season efforts made him believe the Storm wouldn't skip a beat.

"Some great players have unfortunately left the club but some of the players that have come in add a lot," he said.

"We've got a nice dusting of youth and experience in our pack and to see that coming together through the summer is really exciting."

Welch welcomed criticism of the Melbourne pack, saying it only served to spark the players.

He said he couldn't wait for their round one meeting against the 2022 grand finalists to prove the doubters wrong.

"It's exciting having people say, 'Oh, they've lost the Bromwich brothers, they've lost Kaufusi, they're going to be a bit soft through the middle'," Welch said.

"It's got me a little bit fired up and I know all the boys that are in our ruck unit, we're excited about getting out there ... hopefully we can prove a few people wrong.

"Us forwards, we know if we can set a platform we've got one of the best spines in the competition, exciting backs, we've got a great team."