LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Melbourne Storm are close to signing Kobe Hetherington, a forward from the Newcastle Knights, to fill the gap left by Eliesa Katoa, who will miss the entire 2026 season due to a traumatic head injury sustained while playing for Tonga.
The Storm have confirmed that Katoa will be sidelined for the season, as he continues to recover from surgery aimed at alleviating a brain bleed. Currently, there is no set timeline for his return as the team focuses on his recovery.
News Corp reports that Hetherington is preparing to make the transition to Melbourne. He has previously played for the Bulldogs, Panthers, and Warriors before spending recent seasons with the Knights. Although Hetherington has the versatility to play in the middle or on the edge, he has struggled to consistently showcase the potential many once saw in him.
Matter-of-factly, Melbourne has secured $600,000 in salary cap relief from the NRL to facilitate Hetherington's signing. There were rumors of the Storm being in negotiations with the forward for months, suggesting that his actual cost may not reach that amount, thereby allowing Melbourne to consider pursuing additional players.
Hetherington is not the only option the Storm have for the second row position. They boast a variety of backline alternatives, including Moses Leo, who is expected to see increased playing time this year, along with Nick Meaney, Sua Fa'alogo, Xavier Coates, Will Warbrick, and Howarth, all of whom are set to receive ample game time.