Joey Leilua has signed with English Championship side Featherstone Rovers as the centre looks to revive his rugby league career.
Following his controversial exit from the Tigers, Leilua, 29 will link up with Featherstone ahead of the 2022 season.
The Championship is the second tier of English rugby league, one level below the Super League.
The former Dally M centre of the year has played 225 NRL games and will join ex-NRL players Fa’amanu Brown, Dane Chisholm and former Manly, Cronulla forward Jesse Sene-Lefao, who joined the club last week.
Featherstone coach Brian McDermott said: “This signing is another clear demonstration of this club’s unwavering ambition and focus on gaining Super League promotion.
“Joey brings a level of experience and raw ability that is unrivalled in the Championship.
“He’ll add some serious size, strength and focused aggression which will help this side go up to another level.
“I’ve had many conversations with Joey over the last few weeks, we’re looking forward to working together to achieve our Super League objective.”
Leilua took a parting shot at Tigers coach Michael Maguire amid his ugly departure from Concord, saying he was punted from the club because he was willing to “speak up when something is wrong – and there were plenty of things going wrong at that club.”
Before heading to England, Leilua will take on Chris Heighington in a boxing match on the Paul Gallen-Josh Aloiai undercard. He said he hopes to play in the NRL again and is frustrated with how his reputation was trashed during his break-up with the Tigers.
“I just want to prove that I’m committed and willing to do anything to win and that’s what I have done my whole career,” Leilua said earlier this month.
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“I don’t know why everyone is thinking of me with what has been going on in the media.
“I definitely want to play in the NRL again. Everyone has got this persona of me being a bad person for the team and I’m going out there to prove myself that I’m committed to this boxing, and show them I still want to be a part of the NRL.
“(I want to) set the rumours straight and show I’m not that kind of person – it is disappointing that everyone thinks I’m like that.”
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