The Melbourne Storm forward stocks look set to be depleted even more with reports that forward Jordan McLean is moving to North Queensland.
The Cowboys have reportedly signed the Storm prop to a lucrative multi-year deal starting in 2018 which will be announced once the 10-day cooling off period has passed.
The news of McLean's departure will be a blow to the Storm following the departure of Kevin Proctor in the off-season to the Gold Coast and Tohu Harris signing on with the Warriors in 2018.
The Cowboys have been actively searching for a replacement for James Tamou who left the club at the end of last season to sign with the Penrith Panthers. There had also been rumours that star State of Origin prop Matt Scott was considering leaving North Queensland for a better deal with Newcastle.
It now seems likely that Scott will stay and the signing of McLean will go a long way to replacing the size and experience the Cowboys lost when Tamou left and Ben Hannant retired in the offseason.
It's not all doom and gloom for the Storm though with Jesse Bromwich re-signing with the club earlier in the week. Kenny Bromwich, the brother of Jesse, seems likely to also re-sign with the club.
The Storm had also been worried that Dale Finucane might be on the way out, with the Wests Tigers and Newcastle Knights both actively pursuing his signature. But reports on Friday suggest he too is now set to stay in Melbourne.
