Melbourne Storm forward Josiah Pahulu is close to leaving the club and pursuing a deal with the Canberra Raiders.
Pahulu is in the final year of his deal with the Storm; however, according to ESPN, he is expected to be bought out of the final 12 months and head to the Raiders for the 2027 season.
It is understood he hopes to play more first grade and that there is an opportunity to find game time in Canberra.
The New Zealand-born forward joined the Titans in 2023, working his way through the pathways at the Burleigh Bears before playing 22 first-grade games for the club.
The front rower left the Gold Coast Titans during the 2025 season to head to Melbourne, months after a contract dispute that left Pahulu furious at the time.
He has only played one game for the Storm since leaving the Gold Coast.
Pahulu had an incentive about the number of games played to earn more money.
If he played 20 games during the season, he was set to be paid an additional $40,000 to $50,000.
However, he played 19 games that season, leaving him one game short of receiving the money.
The forward was left furious and believed the club intentionally left him out of the side in the last round of the season.
In Round 25 of 2024, Pahulu suffered an abductor injury, which would see him miss the match against the Sydney Roosters.
Although he returned against the Knights in the following week, he was left out of the final round as he struggled with the injury.
The deal that would see him leave the Storm will go through if Melbourne are willing to pay a portion of his salary for the 2027 season; the exact amount is unclear at this stage.
Canberra's forward pack will look very different in the 2027 season, with Josh Papalii retiring, while Corey Horsburgh and Morgan Smithies head to the Perth Bears.
Pahulu would join Jaiyden Hunt and Lipoi Hopoi at Canberra, who recently agreed to deals with the club.
Whether the Raiders retain Jake Clydsdale and Vena Patuki-Case remains to be seen.
