Wests Tigers have granted forward Luciano Leilua an early release from his contract, allowing him to join North Queensland for the remainder of the NRL season.
Leilua signed a three-year contract in November worth $2.2 million to join the Cowboys from 2023, also requesting an immediate release from the Tigers they day he signed the new deal.
The 26-year-old is a handy backrow replacement for the Cowboys after losing Heilum Luki to a season-ending ACL injury on Friday, and fellow second row Mitch Dunn earlier this season.
The 26-year-old appeared 12 times for the Tigers in 2022 averaging 101 run metres and scoring one try.
Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe wished the departing Leilua the best for his future.
"He and his family have made a lot of friends here at the Wests Tigers and they will be missed," he said.
Leilua wont be the only Tiger missing from their clash with Canterbury on Sunday with winger Brent Naden accepting an early guilty plea for a grade-three dangerous tackle on Manly forward Jake Trbojevic.
Naden will miss the next four NRL games.
