England prop Matty Lees will depart St Helens at the conclusion of next season to join the new NRL franchise, Papua New Guinea Chiefs, for the 2028 campaign.
The 28-year-old forward has informed the Super League club of his decision to link up with the new Australian outfit.
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The Chiefs will be under the guidance of current Hull Kingston Rovers head coach Willie Peters.
Lees has accumulated nearly 200 appearances for St Helens since joining the team as a 16-year-old and subsequently making his first-team debut at age 18.
He is currently sidelined for the remainder of the 2026 season following knee surgery.
St Helens has already secured a replacement for the injured forward by signing former Canterbury Bulldogs player Daniel Suluka-Fifita, who is expected to arrive on Merseyside this week.
St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus expressed his high regard for the departing forward while discussing the transition.
"He has won every honour with us and will go down as a legend of the club," said McManus.
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The club chairman noted that the player will remain fully committed to the Super League team once his recovery from the current knee injury is complete.
"I'm sure that he will carry on in that vein when he recovers from injury and that he will be giving absolutely everything, as only he knows how to, in the 2027 season," said McManus.
McManus also acknowledged that playing in the Australian competition has been a long-term goal for the England international.
"Matty has had an ambition to play in the NRL for some time, and we respect that, particularly after so many years of putting his body on the line for us," said McManus.
The prop had specific terms in his current deal that allowed for an early departure to the Southern Hemisphere.
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"He had an NRL break clause in his existing contract for 2028 and, therefore, in turn, he has shown respect to us by honouring his contractual obligations to the full," said McManus.
