KIWI international Herman Ese'ese will leave the Newcastle Knights at the end of this season to join the Gold Coast Titans.
Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien had been keen to retain Ese'ese, but the club acknowledged from early in negotiations that they were going to be unable to match the Titans' offer.
Ese'ese has signed with Gold Coast for two seasons.
He is in the final year of a three-season deal with Newcastle, for whom he played his 50th top-grade game in Sunday's 10-4 loss to Parramatta.
The 25-year-old played a lone Test for New Zealand in 2018, earning selection on the strength of an outstanding debut season for the Knights, whom he joined after stints with Canterbury and Brisbane.
The Titans have already signed giant Melbourne youngster Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and have tabled a reported $1.25 million-a-year offer to Brisbane back-rower David Fifita.
"I'm really excited to be joining the Titans and I'm looking forward to making the Gold Coast home," Ese'ese said in a statement on the Titans' website.
"With the experience I have under my belt now, I think I'm playing the best football of my career and I'm looking forward to adding that to the Titans pack.
"I truly believe that Justin [Holbrook] and the coaching staff are assembling a squad that can challenge for finals and I want to be a part of that.
"I've got some good mates in the team already and I've played at the Rugby League World Cup with Sam [Lisone[ and Young [Tonumaipea], so there will be some established combinations there.
"I've got some footy to go this year at the Knights which I'm focused on, but I can't wait to play my first game next year in front of Titans members and fans at Cbus Super Stadium."
