Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson has begun the search for a replacement for Australian forward Luke O’Donnell, who has been released by mutual agreement.
The 32-year-old former Kangaroo international had another 12 months left on his initial three-year contract with the Giants but will return home on Friday and is expected to join Sydney Roosters.
O’Donnell made just 23 appearances in his first two injury-hit seasons in Super League but made an impressive return in Huddersfield’s opening 40-4 win at St Helens 11 days ago.
However, he missed their 34-6 win over London Broncos on Sunday amid reports that his wife had become homesick and that he had become unhappy over the tightening of tax regulations affecting overseas players.
“It’s disappointing for him to be leaving but I fully understand his position and he goes with my best wishes,” Anderson said.
Only a week ago the Giants rejected a player exchange deal proposed by Sydney Roosters but Giants managing director Richard Thewlis confirmed on Wednesday the player had sought and been granted a release with no strings attached.
“Firstly I would say that deep down neither Luke nor the club wanted this outcome to be how things panned out,” said Thewlis.
“However, the reality is that Luke is financially in a different place now to that envisaged when he joined at the start of the 2011 season.
“The changing regulations in respect of offshore pensions have caused him significant difficulties – as I am sure it must have for other overseas players in the UK – but fortunately for him an opportunity has arisen back home which will help him going forward.
“We do not wish to stand in the way of a longer-term opportunity for him as next year’s Giants contract was an option we held and we would have wanted to see a long consistent run of appearances before we would commit to the fourth year, which understandably was important for Luke.
“In a nutshell he understands where we are coming from, we understand his frustrations and we have simply shaken hands, wished each other all the very best and we each move on.”