Melbourne premiership player Justin O’Neill will head north in 2015 to play for the North Queensland Cowboys after the Storm granted him an early release.

O’Neill played 67 NRL games for the Storm – including the grand final win over Canterbury two years ago – but had an injury-plagued 2014.

The winger was restricted to just four games this year.

“On behalf of everyone at Storm, I’d like to thank Justin for his contribution to the club,” said Melbourne chief executive Mark Evans.

“Justin was an under-20s graduate who went on to become a premiership-winning winger in 2012 and he will always be welcome at Storm.

“We wish him and his partner well for the future.”