LACHLAN Fitzgibbon has ruled out a move to Warrington Wolves before next year.

The second rower will join The Wire on a three-year deal for 2024 but given the club’s need for immediate reinforcements in the pack, there had been discussions about bringing him over to England early.

Head coach Daryl Powell confirmed they had asked that question of his current club Newcastle Knights and were hopeful a deal could be done, but Fitzgibbon has now poured cold water on the idea.

Speaking to the Australian press ahead of the Knights’ NRL clash with Wests Tigers this weekend, the 29-year-old confirmed he will remain part of the Newcastle squad as they bid to make a late run into the play-offs.

“I’m fully committed to playing out the year here,” he said.

“I know we’re sitting 14th at the moment but we’re still three points outside the eight. It wouldn’t sit right with me or the club if I just got up and left out of the back door.

“I want to finish my career here at the Knights on a high, there’s eight more games and hopefully we can go on a bit of a run to sneak into the top eight.”

After playing more than 100 NRL games, Fitzgibbon will get his first taste of Super League from next year onwards.

He admits moving to the other side of the world will be “a massive change” but believes he will still be at the peak of his powers when he pulls on the Warrington jersey.

“It’s super exciting for me and my partner, but it’s going to be a massive change,” he said.

“I will definitely miss Newcastle but overseas, I hear they have some pretty cool crowds and they get the chants going so I’m looking forward to it.

“It’s not a decision I took lightly – I feel like I’m playing some good footy at the moment, the body’s feeling good and I feel like I’ve got plenty of good years ahead of me.

“It’s always something I wanted to do and in rugby league, it’s a lot around timing.

“For my partner and me, it feels like the right time.”