The Melbourne Storm has announced the signing of Kelma Tuilagi on a 12-month deal starting in 2027.
Tuilagi will depart the Parramatta Eels at year's end, returning to his local club, where he progressed through the Victorian pathways after relocating from New Zealand.
With incoming recruit Jaydn Su'A is set to secure the right second row position at the Eels, and with workhorse Jack Williams in the mix, along with the emergence of Kitione Kautoga, he wasn't able to pick up an extension for next year.
Tuilagi was a member of the Storm's NRL squad in 2020, later making his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers the following year, where he has played 88 NRL games for the Tigers, Manly Sea Eagles and the Eels.
"We're delighted to have Kelma returning to Melbourne Storm and Victoria in 2027," director of football Frank Ponissi said.
"Kelma has a strong connection to our Club. He was part of our 2020 Premiership-winning squad and came through the Victorian rugby league system, so it's fantastic to bring him back after he's established himself as an NRL player.
"He's a powerful, athletic forward who has continued to develop over the past few seasons. He'll add experience and physicality to our forward pack, and we're excited to see him back in a Storm jersey.”
Tuilagi was born in Samoa and later represented them on an international level in the 2022 World Cup.
The addition of Tuilagi gives the Storm second row depth moving into the future with Shawn Blore departing the club, while Eliesa Katoa is no guarantee of returning to the field.
Tuilagi locked down a starting back row spot for the Sea Eagles when he arrived on the Northern Beaches in 2023, but with a logjam of backrowers at the club, including Samuela Fainu and Ben Trbojevic, Manly released Tulagi from the remaining two years of his contract for a new opportunity at the Eels.
He came through the grades with the Casey Warriors and Victorian Thunderbolts clubs, a unique pathway into the NRL, while also re-locating to the Sunshine Coast with the Storm outfit in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, later securing the premiership title that year.
Tuilagi is currently plying his trade in the Eels NSW Cup side, where he scored a double against the North Sydney Bears on the weekend.
