Peta Hiku will leave NZ Warriors at the end of the 2021 NRL season, signing a two-year deal with North Queensland Cowboys.
Hiku, 28, played just four matches for the Warriors this season, before a shoulder injury against St George-Illawarra Dragons in April ruled him out for the rest of the year.
"We made an offer to Peta, but unfortunately we couldn't match the terms he had on the table from his new club and understandably he has to look after his family's best interests," Warriors recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan says.
Hiku has played 67 games and scored 18 tries, since joining the Warriors in 2018.
The move sees Hiku reunited with coach Todd Payten, who took charge of the Warriors on an interim basis in 2020, after Stephen Kearney was sacked.
"Peta is a smart and experienced centre, who has also shown he can play fullback and in the halves," Payten says of his new signing.
"He's really creative for his outside men, he's a tryscorer himself and he's a good family man, who is going to add value to the club, on and off the field."
The Cowboys have also secured the signings of halves pair Chad Townsend and Tom Dearden.
Join Newshub for live updates of the Warriors v Cowboys NRL clash from 8pm Friday.
