Storm add Hetherington, Toelau and Waitere in triple signing move
Melbourne Storm has strengthened its roster for the 2026 NRL season, securing Jack Hetherington, Trent Toelau, and Manaia Waitere in a triple signing announced today. All three players have joined the club immediately as pre-season preparations ramp up.
Hetherington arrives in Melbourne as the most experienced of the trio, having amassed 96 NRL appearances across the Knights, Bulldogs, Warriors and Panthers. The hard-running forward, capable of playing both prop and second row, has signed a one-year deal and is expected to bring aggression, energy and a strong work rate to the Storm middle rotation.
Hetherington is a replacement for Nelson Asofa-Solomona who departed the club days after the Storm were beaten in the 2025 Grand Final by the Brisbane Broncos.
Toelau returns to familiar territory, rejoining the Storm system after beginning his junior pathway in Melbourne. The 23-year-old playmaker represented Storm at Jersey Flegg level before shifting to Penrith in 2021. After making 11 NRL appearances for the Panthers, Toelau now returns home, providing added depth and versatility across the halves and spine.
Waitere’s arrival adds further young talent to the backline. The New Zealand-born utility back signed a two-year contract after an impressive period with the Raiders, where he made his NRL debut in Round 27 against the Dolphins. Waitere has scored 19 tries in 54 games in the NSW Cup for the Raiders and Newtown Jets.
All three signings have linked with the squad for the beginning of pre-season, giving Craig Bellamy and his coaching staff early access to their newest additions as preparations for the 2026 campaign build.
