TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 25: Sam Kasiano of the Storm is tackled by Gavin Cooper of the Cowboys during the round 12 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Melbourne Storm at 1300SMILES Stadium on May 25, 2018 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Sam Kasiano has left the Storm and will sign with Super League side Catalans Dragons on a three-year deal, which will see Melbourne return back under the salary cap in time for round one.

If the Storm entered their season opener against Brisbane next week over the cap, skipper Cameron Smith would have been ruled out of the clash, given he was the last player to sign for the Storm, effectively sending them over the cap.

Smith's absence would have been due to the NRL's 'last man in' rule, although with Kasiano moving overseas, it allows the Storm to move back under the cap and be compliant for next Thursday's clash.

Kasiano was close to joining St George Illawarra, although Catalans' contract offer was too good to refuse.

8 COMMENTS

  1. Correct me if I am wrong here, but don’t the NRL have to give the thumbs up to every contract?
    This would mean the ridiculous situation where the NRL allowed the Storm to resign Cam Smith knowing it would push them over the cap.
    They should not have registered Cams contract or any other Storm players until it would fit into the salary cap.

  2. I have often thought that myself. Sounds too easy I suppose. Perhaps clubs might get the chance to sign a player that they have been chasing and sign him late, which puts them over the cap. The club then has a certain time to re-arrange their roster to fit under the cap. Maybe a warning from the NRL when they are getting close might help those who have trouble managing their cap.

  6. I didn’t think the storm concerned themselves with trivial things like the salary cap?

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