KEY POINTS:
Winger Cooper Vuna is to pursue his National Rugby League career at Newcastle after being released by the New Zealand Warriors today.
Vuna, 19, has made just five appearances for the Warriors since becoming the club's youngest first-grade player in 2004.
He was due to be off-contract at the end of the year, and chief executive Wayne Scurrah said he had asked for a release.
"Cooper hasn't been able to break into our NRL side on a regular basis and has asked us for a release to join the Knights," Scurrah said.
"We're sorry to see him go and wish him all the best with his goal to play more NRL football in the future."
Vuna was just 17 years and 47 days old when he made his NRL debut against Parramatta on August 21, 2004.
His last first-grade appearances was off the bench in the round 23 encounter with North Queensland in Auckland last August.
This season, he has played seven times for the Auckland Lions in the New South Wales Premier League, scoring four tries.
- NZPA
