England international Owen Trout will take his talents from the Super League to the NRL in 2027 after signing a two-year deal with the Cronulla Sharks.
The 26-year-old will become the club's first UK import in almost 50 years, following in the footsteps of Sharks legends like Tommy Bishop and Cliff Watson.
Trout has played 124 first-class matches, including stints at Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants before joining Leigh Leopards in 2024.
The big-hitting forward, who earned his first Test cap against Australia in last October's Ashes series, is approaching his prime and wants to test himself down under.
Sharks General Manager Football Darren Mooney is confident Trout will adapt to playing in a new competition.
"Owen's style of play is well suited for success in the NRL and we believe he is at the right stage of his career to make the move," Mooney said.
"He still has a job to do at Leigh, and our focus is firmly on the current NRL season, but we look forward to welcoming him to the club in due course."
Trout's international call-up came after playing every Super League match for the Leopards in 2025, culminating in a semi-final loss to Wigan Warriors.
The Wakefield-born product has featured in five games for Leigh so far this season, alternating between prop and second row.
