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6 months ago
21
Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins is more known for his undie commercials than footy these days, which makes his recent 'signing' with NRL club Melbourne Storm truly baffling... until you look a little deeper.
Craig Bellamy committing to coach the club in 2025 was the major news out of Storm HQ on Friday, but it also came saddled with the surprise announcement of the signing of the former Super Rugby and Wallabies star.
Storm CEO Justin Rodski revealed the club had made 'a really special signing' that had been 'a long time in the making' just before the Bellamy announcement.
'We know that code switches don't happen easily, but we're really excited to be welcoming the newest addition to our squad,' Rodski said.
Cummins made a shock appearance at the Melbourne Storm on Friday (pictured) after 'signing' with the club
The Honey Badger (pictured centre with Storm players Christian Welch, left, and Harry Grant) wants to keep the younger players on their toes
'A player that's got great character, he's proven himself on the big stage in rugby union. And for us as a club, we're always looking to do things a little bit differently and look at opportunities to strengthen our squad and our list.
'Today's that day and we're pretty excited to be welcoming to the Melbourne Storm … the Honey Badger.'
Cummins is now famed for his ocker Aussie banter, rugby playing days, Tradie underwear and workwear commercials and appearing on the 9th season of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia.
He played 87 games for the Western Force, earned 15 caps with the Wallabies and contested 35 series of Rugby 7s with the Australian squad.
The 36-year-old hung up the boots for good in 2016, which left many scratching their heads over what he would be doing with the Storm in the NRL.
In his prime Cummins was a destructive weapon for the Wallabies and the Australian 7s side
The man known as the Honey Badger quickly endeared himself to Super Rugby fans with his unique and very Australian way of speaking
These days, Cummins is best known as the ambassador for Tradie underwear and workwear, a company that just happens to sponsor the Melbourne Storm
While the signing is surely a PR stunt for Tradie - who sponsor the Storm - and there is precisely zero chance of Cummins lining up in the NRL, the former rugby star marched out and declared he's 'still got a bloody bit of music' in him.
'The opportunity came around, I was like a bull in a china shop, just wanted to go up the guts and into it, throw yourself in and give it everything you can,' he said, in the typical Honey Badger way,
The Tradie water bottle is another giveaway that the Cummins appearance was a PR stunt
'You've got a couple of young blokes I want to show that I can still deliver the goods and push,' Cummins said.
'I know I can add something to the boys with a bit of experience and a bit of passion.'
'It's a tight group, it's tight for spots but I'll do what I can for everyone.
'The boys, how tight they are together, it's going to be hard to crack that but I know I can. It's as tight as a fat lady's sock.
'If I can get in there and add what I can, I will.'
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