The Melbourne Storm could be offered former NRL player Curtis Rona as a potential replacement for wantaway winger Josh Addo-Carr at the end of this season.
It has been well documented that Addo-Carr apparently wants out of Melbourne to return to Sydney.
While the Storm are still determined to convince Addo-Carr to stay, a number of different possibilities remain for the NSW representative in 2021.
One potential deal floated earlier in the year was a swap deal with the Wests Tigers involving Paul Momirovski.
Addo-Carr's deal with the Storm goes until the end of 2021, meaning he is free to negotiate with other clubs at the end of this season.
However, commentary persists that Addo-Carr wants to return to Sydney at the end of this season.
The 25-year-old recently changed agents and according to The Australian's Brent Read, that could be crucial in getting an early deal across the line for Addo-Carr.
Speaking on Triple M on Saturday afternoon, Read said that the Storm are determined to get a replacement for Addo-Carr if he is to leave early and new manager Mario Tartak could be the key.
"Obviously the Addo-Carr situation has heated up," Read said.
"He has a new agent, I spoke to Mario Tartak today, who is his new agent and he's got to sit down with Josh Addo-Carr and work out what he wants to do.
"But one thing is pretty clear...if Josh Addo-Carr is to leave, Melbourne wants a player in return.
"Mario Tartak manages a couple of wingers. Jason Saab and Curtis Rona.
"I don't think Jason Saab will be going to Melbourne but certainly I suspect Curtis Rona will be offered to Melbourne as potentially a make-way deal for Josh Addo-Carr to leave and go elsewhere.
"He's (Rona) over playing rugby in England at the moment but he wants to come back to the NRL he wants to come back to Australia.
"He'll get offered I suspect to the Melbourne Storm as a potential replacement for Josh Addo-Carr."
28-year-old Rona last appeared in the NRL in 2016 for the Bulldogs.
He has 40 tries in 57 NRL matches, including 23 for Canterbury in the 2015 season.
Since leaving the NRL, Rona has spent the majority of time in Rugby with stints at both the Western Force and the Waratahs.
He is currently with London Irish who compete in the Premiership Rugby competition in the UK.
He has also made three appearances for the Wallabies.
