Back rower Feleti Mateo has been granted an early release from the last two years of his Vodafone Warriors contract to return to Sydney.
Vodafone Warriors general manager football Dean Bell said while he wasn’t off contract until the end of the 2016 NRL season, Mateo had indicated he was keen to move his family back to Australia as soon as possible.
“Feleti and (his wife) Michelle have lots of family in Sydney and that was a big factor in his plans,” said Bell.
“While he had two years to go on his contract, in the circumstances, we’re happy to allow him to return home.
Mateo, who turns 31 on May 2 next year, was in the Vodafone Warriors’ grand final side in his first season with the club in 2011.
Moving to Auckland after 88 appearances for Parramatta since his first-grade debut in 2004, he finishes five games short of 100 appearances for the Vodafone Warriors. In his 95 games he scored 44 points from 10 tries and two goals.