Jack Hetherington could be set for a career lifeline.
There are reports linking the departing Newcastle Knights forward to a move south to join the Melbourne Storm.
The 29-year-old, who can play on the edge or in the middle, has not been offered a new deal by Newcastle after three injury-interrupted seasons in the Hunter.
He made 53 appearances from a possible 72 games since joining from Canterbury at the end of 2022, but struggled to lock down a consistent role under Adam O’Brien.
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Storm circle as Asofa-Solomona exits
According to News Corp, the Storm have shown interest in Hetherington as they look to bolster their forward pack following Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s departure.
With the New Zealand enforcer off the books, Melbourne now have salary cap space to recruit, and Hetherington’s aggressive style could appeal to Craig Bellamy as a depth option.
Hetherington would not command the same salary as Asofa-Solomona, potentially allowing the club to strengthen elsewhere while still adding a physical edge to their rotation.
Tui Kamikamica remains in talks over a potential extension after initially being tabled a minimum offer, while emerging forwards Ativalu Lisati and Lazarus Vaalepu are both expected to re-sign.
New start on the horizon
Hetherington, who has also spent time at Penrith, Canterbury and the Warriors, is approaching 100 NRL games but endured a disappointing 2025 season.
A shift to Melbourne could give him a fresh start in one of the league’s most consistent systems, even if he is unlikely to feature as a regular starter.
The Canberra-born forward is yet to be linked with any other clubs, leaving the Storm as his most likely destination heading into 2026.