Matt Lodge's NRL career appears over, with the North Queensland prop set to make an immediate move to Leeds Rhinos in the English Super League.
AAP understands Lodge farewelled Cowboys players on Wednesday, with a deal with the ladder-leading Rhinos expected to be complete as early as Thursday.
The prop has left North Queensland on good terms, but was off-contract at the end of this season and is keen for the chance to play more football.
Lodge has played 15 games for the Cowboys this year, but his match time has dried up since round 14, with a total of just 60 minutes on the field in that time.
The 31-year-old had been off-contract at the end of 2026, and the move means he has likely played his last game in the NRL.
After bursting on to the scene as a 19-year-old at Wests Tigers, Lodge's career was put on hold after a high-profile off-field incident in New York.
The front-rower spent two years out of the NRL, before being handed a lifeline at Brisbane in 2018 and playing nearly 150 NRL games.
He has since spent time at the Warriors, Sydney Roosters and Manly, before knocking back an option at the Sea Eagles for 2026 to move to North Queensland.