The Mole: Storm shoot down approach to sign Cronulla cult hero Tom Hazelton to replace Christian Welch
Updated . First published
In-demand prop Tom Hazelton could be the shock replacement for recently retired Storm veteran Christian Welch - and it could even happen this season.
Welch decided to hang up the boots on medical grounds this week and the Storm were given salary cap relief to cover his loss.
Hazelton comes off contract with the Sharks at the end of 2025 and his management sees him as the ideal man to fill Welch's shoes at Melbourne.
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Tom Hazelton The Mole Getty
"The Storm is such a great organisation and Tom would learn so much there and if he signs a long-term deal with Melbourne, Cronulla may even let him go now," Hazelton's manager Gavin Orr told Wide World of Sports.
"You never know… stranger things have happened."
The Storm were approached by a member of Pacific Sports Management - Hazelton's management company - but say they are not interested in the big prop.
"He will not be coming here - there is nothing to it," Storm recruitment manager Paul Bunn told Wide World of Sports.
A host of clubs, headed by the Dragons and Newcastle, have shown interest in Hazelton, who was again impressive in the Sharks' win over Canberra in the national capital last night.
With Addin Fonua-Blake coming on board this season, the Sharks have a host of big middle men and look at long odds to retain the much-improved Hazelton.
