The Melbourne Storm are reportedly eyeing veteran forward Jack Hetherington as an option to replace Eli Katoa after being granted $600,000 in salary cap relief by the NRL. Katoa has been ruled out of the entire 2026 season after suffering a seizure and brain bleed from three separate head knocks in the Pacific Championships.
Because the injured occurred in rep footy, the Storm are entitled to salary cap relief from the NRL. It’s believed the NRL has granted the Storm $600,000 to spend on a replacement for the star back-rower, and the Daily Telegraph is reporting that Hetherington is in their sights.
The NRL has granted the Melbourne Storm $600,000 for a replacement for Eli Katoa (L). Image: AAP
The publication is reporting that a one-year deal for Hetherington is expected to be confirmed in the next week. Yahoo Sport Australia has contacted the Melbourne Storm for comment.
Hetherington has played 96 NRL games across a career spanning stints at the Panthers, Warriors, Bulldogs and Knights. He played 17 games for the Panthers between 2018 and 2020, and 20 at the Bulldogs across 2021 and 2022.
His most significant contribution came at Newcastle between 2023 and 2025 when he featured in 53 games at NRL level. Because he’s without a contract for 2026, he’s one of very few players the Storm can potentially sign to replace Katoa.
Jack Hetherington would be joining his fifth NRL club. Image: Getty
Melbourne Storm in tricky spot to try and replace Eli Katoa
Others like Adam Elliott and Ryan Matterson are available, but most teams have already filled their rosters for 2026. “It’s very late in the piece (for 2026), so with Paul Bunn and our recruitment team we’re obviously now looking at all options,” Storm CEO Justin Rodski said on SEN radio last week.
“We’ve got a few players in our current squad that we think can come in and do a job, but at the same time, clearly there’s going to be an opportunity for us to go to the market. (But) he’s not really replaceable, to be honest, he’s been such a power force for us, such a great combination with (halfback) Jahrome Hughes on that edge. We’re going to miss him.”
Hetherington was first linked to the Storm last month when Nelson Asofa-Solomona was granted an immediate release from the final two years of his deal. It seems unlikely he’d be on $600,000 for 2026, meaning the Storm could potentially make a second move to fill the Katia void.
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With Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jonah Pezet departing as well, the Storm have freed up about $2 million in total when you add in the cap relief for Katoa. Papenhuyzen, Pezet and Asofa-Solomona all forfeited money to get out of their contracts, with Papenhuyzen and Asofa-Solomona weighing up where their futures lie. Pezet has signed with Parramatta for 2026, but will switch to the Broncos from 2027.
The Storm got some welcome good news last week when captain Harry Grant signed a two-year contract extension. Veteran forward Tui Kamikamica has also reportedly re-signed for 2026 amid speculation he’d be forced to leave.
Meanwhile, star five-eighth Cameron Munster has stated he won’t be leaving before the end of his contract, but gun backs Nick Meaney and Tyran Wishart have both been linked to the Perth Bears for 2027.