As the Warriors let one international fullback go on Wednesday, they confirmed another will arrive in his place.
In a move a month in the making, Sam Tomkins has secured an early release from his three-year deal with the Warriors and will return home to the UK at the end of the current Telstra Premiership season.
The loss for the Warriors will be offset by the arrival of Sydney Roosters fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on a three-year deal.
"On one aspect it's quite a negative to see Sam going back to England at the end of the year; we would have much preferred him to stay here for quite a lot longer," Warriors managing director Jim Doyle said.
"At the same time it is a positive announcement in regards to us being able to secure Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for the next three years.
"We have been working with Sam for the last month or so in regards to him feeling homesick.
"One thing that we all agreed was that there shouldn't be a negative impact on the club when it comes to this. So really we wouldn't release Sam until such times that the club wouldn't go backwards.
"While we have been working with Sam we have also been targeting Roger at the same time… with him coming on board for next year it then allows us to let Sam go back home to England."
A local Auckland junior who grew up minutes away from Mt Smart Stadium, Tuivasa-Sheck is widely regarded as on the NRL's best young fullbacks.
Last weekend he became just the 13th player in NRL history to run for over 300 metres in a match and he already has something most of his new teammates are lacking; an NRL premiership.
Warriors coach Andrew McFadden was confident Tuivasa-Sheck was the right man for the job.
"We think we have got a good one there," McFadden said.
"It's a pretty critical position, fullback, so having someone like Roger take over that role is pretty fair.
"Sam and Roger are pretty different styles but certainly Roger will fit in to our style of football. He is a dynamic runner and is only still learning the position and he is going to get better.
"It's got to be reassuring to Warriors fans that the future is in good hands."
Meanwhile Tomkins couldn't yet confirm where he will be playing in 2016, but his former club the Wigan Warriors will be heavy favourites to secure his services.
"It certainly hasn't been an easy decision for me, I went to 'Cappy' (McFadden) and Jim about a month or so ago and said that I had been feeling a little bit homesick," Tomkins said.
"It's a brilliant club and a great place to live, but I am probably a little bit more of a home bird than I thought and it's pretty tough living the other side of the world to all your family.
"[Roger] is world class and I think he has shown that for a while now.
"As good as he is now once he comes to this club he will be even better."
