Dragons star Luciano Leilua has left the NRL on a long-term deal to join Super League side Catalans Dragons.
According to Code Sports, Leilua has signed a three-year contract to join the French team from next season.
Leilua asked the Dragons to bring him back into the reserve class this year after he found himself warming up the bench following the return of young rower Dylan Egan.
Although coach Dean Young did so for one week, he has since returned to the first-year bench playing limited minutes.
It is understood Leilua has been told he will not receive a new contract with the Dragons.
He held brief talks with the Broncos ahead of the June 30 deadline, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
And now he has reached an agreement with the Super League team.
The 30-year-old requested permission to leave this year after agreeing to terms with the Super League side, but that request was rejected and he will spend the season with the Dragons.
He is the fifth St George Illawarra player to leave the NRL at the end of the season, joining teammates Damien Cook, Tyrell Sloane and Matt Figay.
The trio head to Castleford, with prop Emre Guler joining Wakefield.
Leilua has played 177 NRL games since making his Dragons debut in 2016.
He also played for the Tigers and North Queensland.