Leigh Leopards set to sign NRL centre with star to join Super League rivals

Leigh Leopards are reportedly set to sign Tonga centre Tesi Niu for the 2025 season with one of their own set to depart to a Super League rival.

Tesi Niu’s move to the Leopards was reported by Sky Sports‘ Jenna Brooks ahead of the Magic Weekend clash between Leigh and the Salford Red Devils.

Niu’s contract with The Dolphins expires at the end of the season meaning the 23-year-old is available and according to Brooks, he’ll be playing for the Leopards next season.

She said:  “I understand that Leigh are about to agree a deal with Tesi Niu of the Dolphins. Making way will be Ricky Leutele who will be moving to Huddersfield Giants.”

It was already known that Ricky Leutele would be exiting the club with the centre one of several players not offered a contract for the 2025 season, however, news of his return to Huddersfield Giants is a big update.

Who is Leigh Leopards’ reported signing Tesi Niu?

Tesi Niu has spent all his career in Queensland, first playing for Brisbane Broncos in 2020 as he made his debut in a whopping 59-0 defeat against Sydney Roosters.

When he made his first start for the Broncos, he did so at full-back but Niu is a more natural centre or winger and could be a like-for-like replacement for the exiting Leutele.

He’ll form a backline featuring fellow NRL recruit David Armstrong who has signed from Newcastle Knights, whose reserve side he scored a hattrick for today.

As for Niu, he moved from Brisbane to the NRL’s newest club The Dolphins for whom he has played 24 games, although just seven have come in 2024.

For the most part, he has played in the Queensland Cup, scoring six tries in ten games in 2024 and he now seems set to bring his talents to Leigh Leopards for 2025.

Niu has played three times for Tonga, most recently at the World Cup in 2022, scoring four times.