KNIGHTS coach Adam O'Brien has wished Tautau Moga well as the luckless centre prepares to latch onto an NRL lifeline from South Sydney.
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Moga has been released by the Knights after a three-season stint in which injuries restricted him to 14 top-grade games.
The 26-year-old is reported to have agreed to join Souths, where he will renew his association with master coach Wayne Bennett.
The best season of Moga's disrupted career was under Bennett at Brisbane in 2017, when he played in all 27 games and scored nine tries.
That form earned him a lucratuve deal with Newcastle, but in only his fourth game, he tore the anterior-cruciate ligament in his left knee, prompting season-ending surgery.
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It took Moga 15 months to regain his NRL position, and he featured in only six NRL games in 2019.
This season he made only four top-grade appearances after a pre-season hamstring strain put him behind the eight-ball from the outset.
"I was open and up front with Tau and told him there would be limited opportunities here at the Knights," O'Brien said.
"I'm pleased he looks to have found a home at Souths.
"If he's able to reunite with Wayne, I'm sure that will be a good outcome for Tau and I'm really happy for him.
"He's a good guy and he works really hard, so I hope he does well."
Souths would appear to have a stockpile of outside backs but there is speculation that enigmatic speedster James Roberts and fullback Corey Allen are being shopped around.
All NRL clubs are expected to announce this week their preliminary squads for next season - reduced from 36 to 30 players - and Moga's departure will be one of a number of changes at the Knights.
Already veterans Aidan Guerra and Tim Glasby have retired, while Herman Ese'ese has signed for Gold Coast.
Sione Mata'utia is weighing up a three-year offer from St Helens, while Mason Lino has been linked to Canberra and Cronulla.
"We're constantly evaluating our roster and how we can improve it," O'Brien said.
"There's a lot of discussions going on but I'd prefer to keep that in-house at the moment."
The first intake of Newcastle players are expected back for pre-season training on November 17.
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