The towering Kiwi front-rower Nelson Asofa-Solomona is now officially a free agent after being released by his longtime club Melbourne Storm, and recent comments suggest a potential switch to Parramatta Eels is firmly on the table.
Asofa-Solomona’s departure from Melbourne was formalised in early October 2025 when the Storm granted his request for immediate release from the final two years of his contract. In doing so, the club freed up salary-cap space (he was reportedly on around A$850,000 per season) and allowed him to “explore other opportunities”. The release was described as mutual, but it came alongside a somewhat diminished chapter of his career: he missed the past two Grand Finals through suspension and struggled with consistency and availability in recent seasons.
In recent days, Asofa-Solomona has publicly addressed his future. He revealed that he is taking time to rediscover his joy for the game after what he called “a crazy past couple of years”. Importantly, when asked about the possibility of joining the Parramatta Eels under coach Jason Ryles, he didn’t close the door:
“I’m not going to say no (to that idea). I’ve obviously got a really good relationship with Rylesy. He’s someone I can go to and have a coffee with…”
According to other media, the Eels have added him to their short-list as part of their forward-pack rebuild for 2026.
If the move to Parramatta does proceed, it may be a win-win. For the Eels, Asofa-Solomona brings size (he’s 201 cm tall) and experience — two valuable assets for a forward pack hoping to push deeper into finals territory. For Asofa-Solomona himself, it may represent the chance of a fresh start: a new club environment, new expectations, and perhaps a revived motivation. He himself said he “needs to find a bit of joy back into the game… back into my game.
The Uncertainties
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Motivation & form: Recent years have seen Asofa-Solomona’s form dip, and suspensions have affected his availability. Any interested club will assess whether he can regain his best self.
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Code-switch possibilities: He hasn’t ruled out alternate paths — such as switching codes (to rugby union via the emerging R360 competition) or even exploring opportunities outside of league.
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Contract and cap details: As a marquee‐sized salary in past years, any deal will need to reflect not only his past achievements but also his current value and risk.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s next move is set to be one of the more intriguing stories of the 2026 off-season. A move to the Parramatta Eels could revitalize both player and club — but success will hinge on his fitness, focus and whether he can reignite the dominant force he once was. Until then, he remains a high-profile free agent with several possible paths ahead.
