Back-rower Joe Stimson will depart Melbourne Storm at the end of the current NRL season to take up a new opportunity in the National Rugby League.

A former captain of Storm’s under-20s team, Joe was added to the club’s NRL fulltime squad in 2016 and has played 40 NRL games after making his debut in round two of the 2017 season.

He was a member of the 2018 grand final team and recently made his first NRL appearance for the 2019 season off the interchange bench in the round 11 win against the Bulldogs.

The club would like to thank Joe for his contributions on and off the field during his time in Melbourne and look forward to him continuing to have an impact as a member of our squad in our 2019 campaign.

"Joey has been an outstanding clubman at the Storm from the time we signed him on a scholarship whilst still living at Temora and attending St Gregory’s College and then moving to Melbourne into our 20s for the start of the 2014 season," Storm General Manager – Football Frank Ponissi said.

"He has always been a very popular and highly respected player in the squad.

"Whilst we are disappointed to lose Joey, we totally respect his decision and wish him all the best for the future."