Why footy star turned TV regular Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins has signed with the Melbourne Storm after being out of the game for YEARS

Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins is known more for his underwear commercials than his 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 biggest news from 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 just before Bellamy’s announcement that the club had made ‘a very special signing’ that had ‘been in the making for a long time’.

“We know that code switching doesn’t happen easily, but we are very happy to welcome the newest addition to our squad,” said Rodski.

The Honey Badger (pictured center with Storm players Christian Welch, left, and Harry Grant) wants to keep the younger players on their toes

‘A player of great character, he has proven himself on the big stage of rugby union. And for us as a club, we always want to do things a little differently and look at opportunities to strengthen our squad and our list.

“Today is that day and we are very excited to welcome the Melbourne Storm… the Honey Badger.”

Cummins is now famous for his ocher Aussie banter, rugby playing days, Tradie underwear and workwear commercials and his appearance 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 appeared in 35 series of Rugby 7s with the Australian side.

The 36-year-old hung up the boots for good in 2016, leaving many scratching their heads over what he would do with the Storm in the NRL.

In his prime, Cummins was a devastating 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

Today, Cummins is best known as an ambassador for Tradie underwear and workwear, a company that happens to sponsor the Melbourne Storm.

While the signing is certainly a PR stunt for Tradie – who sponsor the Storm – and there is exactly zero chance of Cummins lining up in the NRL, the former rugby star marched out and declared that he was ‘still a damn piece of music’ has in it. .

“The opportunity came, I was like a bull in a china shop, I just wanted to go in with the guts, throw yourself in and give it everything you got,” he said in typical Honey Badger fashion,

The Tradie water bottle is another giveaway that Cummins’ appearance was a PR stunt

“You’ve got some young guys that I want to show that I can still deliver the goods and I can still push,” Cummins said.

‘I know that with a little experience and a little passion I can add something to the boys.’

‘It’s a close-knit group, it’s tight for places, but I’ll do what I can for everyone.

“The boys, as close as they are, it’s going to be hard to break that, but I know I can do it. It’s as tight as a fat lady’s sock.

“If I can come in and add what I can, I will.”