LEIGH Leopards see Tonga World Cup star Tesi Niu as a man to bring them some x-factor.

The utility three-quarter or full-back has joined the club on a three-year contract as Adrian Lam’s fourth new signing for next season.

Niu, 23, has spent the past two campaigns at NRL newcomers Dolphins, after starting out with Brisbane Broncos.

Leopards’ head of rugby Chris Chester said: “With the departure of Ricky Leutele, we have been looking at that strike and x-factor for several months now.

“Tesi has played for two quality teams in the NRL in the Broncos and the Dolphins. He's a big, strong, athletic and powerful rugby player who will excite all our fans in 2025 and beyond.”

Queensland born, Niu made his first-grade debut for Broncos in 2020 and since then has scored 20 tries in 56 NRL appearances across his two clubs.

This past season he was a regular in the Norths Devils team that won the Queensland Cup competition.

And in the grand final, he scored two tries in their 34-20 defeat of Redcliffe Dolphins and lifted the Duncan Hall Medal as player of the match.

Niu also helped Devils beat NSW Cup winners Newtown Jets 20-18 in the NRL State Championship Final last week.

Tesi Niu fends off Wales' Elliot Kear and Dan Fleming during the 2022 Rugby League World CupTesi Niu fends off Wales' Elliot Kear and Dan Fleming during the 2022 Rugby League World Cup (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

On the international stage, Niu represented Australian Schoolboys in 2018.

A year later, alongside Leopards’ 2024 captain John Asiata, he represented a Tonga Invitational select team that defeated Great Britain Lions 14-6.

He played for Tonga in the 2022 World Cup, scoring a total of four tries in victories over Wales and Cook Islands.

Niu joins David Armstrong (Newcastle Knights), Isaac Liu (Gold Coast Titans) and Ben Condon (Manly Sea Eagles) in signing for Leopards for 2025.