David Nofoaluma has joined the Melbourne Storm on loan as Craig Bellamy aims to bolster his injury-affected squad ahead of the finals.
The Tigers winger will play with Melbourne for the remainder of the 2022 season before returning to Leichhardt in 2023.
Nofoaluma will also be eligible for selection for next week's game against the Gold Coast Titans at Aami Park.
A Samoa international, Nofoaluma's arrival comes as Melbourne battles with a number of first team injuries.
They will be without a number of key attacking players - including Ryan Papenhuyzen, George Jennings and Reimis Smith - heading into the finals, and have opted for a late-season loan move.
In a boost for Bellamy's side, Origin winger Xavier Coates is expected to return in round 22.
Nofoaluma made his NRL debut for the Tigers in 2013, going on to play 175 games and score 95 tries.
He won the club's Player of the Year and Dally M Winger of the Year in 2020 and was the Tigers' highest try-scorer in 2021.
The 28-year-old most recently extended with Wests Tigers on a four-year deal, keeping him at the club until at least the end of the 2025 NRL season.
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe thinks the deal will be beneficial for both parties.
"Strategically, we believe this will be good for the club and for David," Pascoe said.
"David is willing to head down there and looks forward to returning for pre-season for the 2023 season."
