Ex-Storm star weighing up NRL retirement to pursue boxing career amid R360 interest

Ex-Storm star Nelson Asofa-Solomona is reportedly considering retiring from rugby league to pursue a career in boxing after the Pacific Championships.

The Daily Telegraph reported Asofa-Solomona is weighing up moving on from rugby league and snubbing a code switch to rugby union to become a boxer.

Asofa-Solomona has shown promise as a boxer throughout his rugby league career and could emulate former Sharks skipper Paul Gallen in pursuing the sport after his retirement.

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At 130kg and 200cm, Asofa-Solomona would be an intimidating presence in the ring and boxing experts believe he has the potential to be an Australian heavyweight champion.

It is understood the Kiwis’ star won’t be returning to the NRL in 2026 after his commitments with New Zealand in the Pacific Championships.

Asofa-Solomona missed the last two Grand Finals due to suspension before mutually agreeing to part ways with the Storm, despite having two years left on his $860,000 a season contract.

The hulking front-rower has been linked with rebel rugby union competition R360, Japanese rugby, while he has also been linked with a potential move to play Super Rugby and for the All Blacks in the past.

The man they call NAS is unlikely to be in rugby league next season with NRL clubs baulking at his asking price, while his struggles with body height has made him a liability with suspensions in recent years.

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The shock career move comes two years after Asofa-Solomona made his boxing debut, dominating Jarrod Wallace in a footy fight night in Townsville in 2023.

“I would like to say I can make a career out of it,” Asofa-Solomona said at the time.

“I am passionate about boxing. It makes me feel alive when I‘m in there.

“At the moment, I‘m a football player and very happy at the Storm, but down the track hopefully I can keep boxing.”

The 29-year-old scored 35 tries in 215 games for the Storm since his debut in 2015 and won premiership in 2017 and 2020, while he has played 15 Tests for New Zealand to date.

If Asofa-Solomona joined R360 he would be subject to the NRL’s 10 year ban from the sport, but that wouldn’t matter as it appears he has played his last game of rugby league anyway, unless a club comes forward with a lucrative deal soon.

“I have been approached by R360 and that’s the option I’m blessed with but what everyone is waiting for is to see how it unfolds,” Asofa-Solomona told New Zealand media.

“There’s a lot of stuff that has come out from the unions but it’s more of just a waiting game.

“It (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.

“I can honestly say I don’t know (what his future holds) but I’m blessed to have some options and not a lot of people have that, so I’m super grateful for that.”

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