Star winger to leave Melbourne

Winger Josh Addo-Carr will leave Melbourne Storm at the end of the 2020 season on compassionate grounds.

The 24-year-old has had a change in family circumstances and has requested to return to Sydney.

He signed from Wests Tigers ahead of the 2017 season and has since scored 57 tries in 76 games. He also has an NRL Premiership to his name.

Storm CEO Dave Donaghy said in a Storm Members Update: “The board yesterday morning instructed management to explore options for Storm to provide Josh with an early release from his playing contract, on compassionate grounds, at the end of the 2020 season.

“To achieve this, Storm would be seeking fair value for Josh in return by way of a combination of the following: transfer fee; player swap, with the player being of commensurate standing [and/or] salary cap relief for doing the right thing by the player, and providing some extra support for Josh.

“Most importantly, it would allow Josh’s request to be met and we, and the game, would be able to continue to support him and his family in the transition back to Sydney.”

Addo-Carr is the latest high profile name to be leaving the Storm. They have already lost Suliasi Vunivalu and Tino Fa’asuamaleuai after 2020.

Vunivalu has signed for Queensland Reds Rugby Union and Fa’asuamaleauai will sign for Gold Coast.

Brodie Croft and Will Chambers have also left the club.  Croft has already signed for Brisbane and Chambers has moved to Japan.