Winger Bill Tupou has signed with the Canberra Raiders for the remainder of the NRL season and beyond after being released by the New Zealand Warriors.
Tupou, 22, has cut short a two-year Warriors contract which was to expire at the end of next year, with an option to continue in 2015.
He has signed a 2-1/2 year deal with the Raiders after having also considered an offer from the Parramatta Eels.
The former Junior Kiwi scored 19 tries in 62 games for the Warriors since his debut in 2010.
That followed two seasons with the club’s under-20 side, in which he scored 28 tries.
Tupou scored three tries in nine games this season but hasn’t started in first grade since the club’s record 62-6 loss to Penrith in round 10.
In that game at Sydney on May 18, he made a team-high 119 metres but is credited with making just one tackle.
Tupou’s agent, Stan Martin, says the player won’t be available for Canberra’s match away to South Sydney on Friday as he probably won’t fly to Australia until this weekend while paperwork is completed.