NRL market watch: Parramatta Eels’ shock interest in Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Parramatta’s free agency moves may not be over with the Eels targeting recently released Melbourne forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona in a surprise move.
Melbourne enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona is being targeted by the Parramatta Eels in the wake of his $1.7 million departure from the Storm.
This masthead can reveal Asofa-Solomona has fielded interest from two NRL rivals, including the Eels, after brokering an immediate release from the final two years of his Melbourne deal.
The Eels have been active in the market in recent days with Parramatta coach Jason Ryles snaring boom Storm playmaker Jonah Pezet for the 2026 season.
Now the Eels have Pezet’s Storm teammate Asofa-Solomona on their radar.
The 200cm giant has a number of options at his disposal – big ‘NAS’ has been sounded out by Japanese rugby and has also been linked with the controversial R360 rebel league.
But NRL clubs have not given up hope of keeping Asofa-Solomona in rugby league.
Well-placed sources say Asofa-Solomona is unlikely to remain in rugby league next season but that hasn’t stopped the Eels reaching out to the monstrous prop.
Having secured Pezet for 12 months, the Eels are also keen to beef-up their forward stocks and have identified Asofa-Solomona as the man mountain to lead a finals fightback next year.
The Eels have 14 players off-contract next season, including former NSW Origin forward Ryan Matterson and veteran prop Junior Paulo.
Asofa-Solomona would be seen as a front-row successor to chief spearhead Paulo, but the 29-year-old is mulling over whether a code defection to rugby union would be a better fit.
Another major option for Asofa-Solomona is professional boxing, with the 130kg hulk giving serious consideration to testing himself as a heavyweight in the fight game.
Asofa-Solomona knocked out former NRL star Jarrod Wallace in a footy fight two years ago and may yet juggle boxing with playing rugby union overseas if he knocks back a move to the Eels
The 215-game veteran told New Zealand radio last week he hadn’t ruled out staying in the NRL.
“I’m pretty blessed to have some options … I could not tell you what I’m going to do,” he said.
“I need to sit down, write things out, and make a sound decision, but I’m not closing the door on league or rugby.
“Rugby is an option but then again I love the game of rugby league – it’s so exciting – that’s what I love about the game.”
Asofa-Solomona was on around $850,000 at the Storm but lost his way under coach Craig Bellamy and was overlooked for Melbourne’s grand final loss against the Broncos earlier this month.
There is a view the Storm sorely missed Asofa-Solomona’s size in the decider and could have won the premiership if he played.
It is understood Asofa-Solomona has become frustrated with rugby league and feels he was not being used in the right way by the Storm.
A former Origin and Test prop himself, Ryles understands what it takes to succeed in the game’s toughest position and would back himself to get the best out of Asofa-Solomona
