North Queensland backrower Sione Faumuina has agreed to join UK Super League outfit Castleford for the 2009 season.

The New Zealand forward, who walked out on Harlequins without playing a game for the club, has negotiated a 12-month deal with the Tigers.

A former Canberra and New Zealand Warriors player who had a three-match stint with Hull in 2007, Faumuina signed a three-year deal with Harlequins in September 2006 but pulled out of it three months later, citing personal reasons.

Now the 27-year-old is willing to return to England after two years in the NRL with the Cowboys.

"I'm very pleased to have got Sione on board for next year," Castleford coach Terry Matterson said.

"He will bring us some real presence. He has the size and skill and plenty of experience at the top level in the NRL.

"When I was at Canberra we tried to bring him back to the club but he opted to stick with the Warriors."

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