NEWCASTLE are favourites to snap-up Roosters discard Joseph 'BJ' Leilua, who was released from the final two years of his contract on Tuesday.
Earmarked as a future NSW Origin star, the powerful three-quarter had been speaking to Roosters officials about a fresh start for the past month.
A conviction for sending lewd photographs of an ex-girlfriend in October placed Leilua on his final warning, straining relations between the 21-year-old City Origin winger and elements of the club.
It's also understood Roosters coaching staff were not suitably impressed with Leilua's attitude over the pre-season, and he was omitted from the team's training camp at AIS headquarters in Canberra this week.
The release was signed-off Tuesday, with the Roosters issuing a blunt two-sentence statement to usher the St George junior out the door.
The Sydney Roosters have today announced that Joseph 'BJ' Leilua has been released from the final two years of his contract forthwith," the statement read. "Leilua will leave the club immediately and no further comment will be forthcoming from the Sydney Roosters."
Leilua left the Dragons at the end of 2009, playing one season under current Knights coach Wayne Bennett in Wollongong.
Newcastle insiders last night said Bennett never wanted to lose him and confirmed moves were underway to sign reform troubled star.
Sacked Bronco Dane Gagai proved a revelation for Newcastle last year, and Leilua has even more promise given his back-to-back selections in the Emerging Blues squad.
But with the salary cap set to rise to $5.8 million next year, there will be plenty of spare change for other suitors.
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