Former Kiwis half Te Maire Martin will reportedly join NZ Warriors from Brisbane Broncos in a swap deal for departing fullback Reece Walsh.
Walsh has been granted an early release from his contract with the NRL club, but it's understood Martin will return to New Zealand as part of the deal, according to Phil Rothfield of the Daily Telegraph.
Martin joined the Broncos in January, two years after retiring from rugby league with a brain injury and has made nine appearances so far this season.
The Tokoroa-born half has played all his games at fullback for Brisbane and was part of the Kiwis squad to play Tonga.
Warriors chief executive Cameron George has confirmed the early release of Walsh from his final year of his contract on compassionate grounds.
"There has been a major change in Reece's personal circumstances in the past two months, which have impacted on his ability to move to Auckland with the club next season," said George.
"We're working through his situation and have given him permission, with some conditions, to look at options in Brisbane.
"It's not the way either Reece or the club had wanted this to play out, but we respect the issues he has."
According to Brisbane's Courier Mail, Walsh has inked a A$1 million-plus, three-year deal to return to the Broncos, the team he left to join the Warriors last year.
Martin will provide another option to fill Walsh's vacated position, with Canberra Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad also signing with the club for 2023.
