King Leaves Warrington Wolves
29 June 2011, 10:01 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
Matt King's waving goodbye to Warrington Wolves and heading back to Australia.
The threequarter's signed a two year contract with South Sydney despite having the option to stay with the Super League leaders.
The 30-year-old is out of contract at the Wolves this year and has decided to return home.
King, who became a father for the first time earlier this month, will link up with current Wigan boss Michael Maguire at the Rabbitohs next season.
Maguire was assistant coach at Melbourne Storm, where King was a member of their Grand Final-winning team in 2007, before joining Wigan and was recently appointed as the successor to John Lang for 2012.
King, who won 10 caps for Australia, has scored 52 tries in 95 appearances for Warrington and was a member of their Challenge Cup-winning teams at Wembley in 2009 and 2010.
Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson said:
'We're really happy to be able to attract a player with the experience and talent that Matt King possesses to our club for the next two years.
'Matt was one of the leading lights during Melbourne's dominance of the competition, alongside players such as Greg Inglis and Michael Crocker and also our new head coach in Michael Maguire.
'He has the runs on the board and we're looking forward to welcoming Matt and his young family to South Sydney next season.'
Meanwhile, Richardson revealed that the club have agreed to release utility forward Shannan McPherson from the remaining year of his contract to enable him to take up a long-term contract with an unnamed Super League club.
McPherson, 25, has made 84 NRL appearances for the Rabbitohs in a first-grade career which began in 2005.
Richardson said:
'It's always tough when one of your juniors moves on but we wish Shannan the best of luck with his new adventure,
'He received an offer to head to the UK and felt it was a good time for him and his young family to experience a bit of the world and ply his trade overseas.
'He has been a great influence at our club both on and off the field and we wish him and his family the best come season's end.'
