Leigh Leopards are delighted to welcome Tonga International Fanitesi Niu to the Leopards Den on a three-year contract.

Niu, 23, is a hugely talented and versatile three-quarter or fullback with considerable NRL and international experience.

Leopards’ head of rugby Chris Chester said: “With the departure of Ricky Leutele, we have been looking at that strike and X-factor for several months now.

“Tesi has played for two quality teams in the NRL in the Broncos and the Dolphins. He’s a big, strong, athletic and powerful rugby player who will excite all our fans in 2025 and beyond.

“I’m looking forward to him putting on a Leopards shirt.”

Queensland born, Niu made his first-grade debut for Brisbane Broncos in 2020 and in the past two seasons has been at the Dolphins, overall scoring 20 tries in a total of 56 NRL appearances.

This past season he was a regular in the Norths Devils team that won the Queensland Cup competition. In the grand final, he scored two tries in their 34-20 defeat of Redcliffe Dolphins and lifted the Duncan Hall medal for player of the match.

Niu completed a successful personal campaign as the Devils beat NSW Cup winners Newtown Jets 20-18 in the NRL State Championship Final last week.

On the international stage, Niu represented Australian Schoolboys in 2018. A year later, alongside Leopards’ 2024 captain John Asiata, he represented a Tonga Invitational select team that defeated Great Britain Lions 14-6 .

More recently he played for Tonga in the 2022 World Cup, scoring a total of four tries in victories over Wales and Cook Islands.

Tesi Niu is available to sponsor by contacting commercial@leighrl.co.uk