The Melbourne Storm have officially announced the departure of Lazarus Vaalepu, who is set to join the Leigh Leopards in the English Super League.
Since his NRL debut in 2024, Vaalepu has played 11 games for the Storm.
In his inaugural season, he participated in seven matches, including the grand final, while last year he added another four games to his record. This season, however, he has yet to play at the top level, focusing instead on the NSW Cup.
Vaalepu joined Melbourne's roster at the beginning of the 2023 season and gradually made his way to first-grade status, having previously developed through the Storm's feeder team, the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
A former junior with the Canberra Raiders, the 27-year-old is eager for more playing time and opportunities upon his arrival in England.
His contract with the Leopards runs through the remainder of 2026, and Andrew Henderson, the club's director of football, praised the acquisition.
"We're really excited to bring Lazarus to Leigh. He's a player with genuine presence, power, and punch, giving us a real point of difference within the middle unit. He's humble, driven to succeed, and genuinely believes he can grow his game under Adrian Lam in Super League. We're looking forward to helping him take the next step in his career," Henderson stated.
"He's of good character and has been developed through a strong Melbourne system for a number of years, which will be a real benefit to us. I believe he'll thrive in the environment and become a player the supporters really connect with. He wants to be part of something ambitious - and that's exactly what we're creating here at Leigh."
The Leopards have confirmed that Vaalepu will join the team after completing his visa and relocation processes.