Ellis heads for Australia

Great Britain forward Gareth Ellis tonight confirmed he is to leave Super League champions Leeds Rhinos at the end of the season to challenge himself in Australia’s National Rugby League.

The 26-year-old former Wakefield second rower has signed a three-year deal with Wests Tigers, who made the announcement at a press conference in Sydney.

Ellis, linked with a move to Manly Sea Eagles last year, will make the move when he comes to the end of the four-year contract he signed when he joined Leeds from the Wildcats in 2004.

“This has been a life-changing decision based on my personal career goals to play at the elite level in both Super League in the UK and the NRL Down Under, complemented by international honours,” he said.

“Leaving Leeds Rhinos will be a massive wrench and my focus for the rest of the 2008 season will be a massive year for me.”

Ellis made the first of 93 appearances for the Rhinos in their World Club Challenge triumph over Canterbury Bulldogs three years ago and was the club’s player of the year in 2006.

He has been capped 17 times for Great Britain and was last year named in the World XIII, having started the last 11 Tests for the Lions.

Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington said: “We are obviously disappointed to be losing a key member of our squad but we fully understand Gareth’s desire to fulfil his lifetime ambition to play in the NRL and, when he leaves, he will do so with our best wishes.

“However, the contract with Wests is of course for next year and we will be looking to recruit a top quality replacement for 2009 throughout this year.”

Ellis will become the first Great Britain forward to switch to the NRL since another ex-Leeds player, Adrian Morley, joined Sydney Roosters eight years ago but he has been tipped to be a big success.

Former St Helens and Wigan coach Ian Millward, now assistant to ex-Leeds boss Graham Murray at North Queensland Cowboys, believes Ellis will have no trouble getting to grips with the Australian game.

“I thought he was one of the best forwards in the last Tri-Nations in Australia so it’s good to see him want to challenge himself in the NRL,” Millward told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“If there were three English players you’d want to bring out here, they would be Ellis, James Roby and Jamie Peacock.”