Acting Hull KR captain Tyrone McCarthy is to move to the NRL

Hull Kingston Rovers have announced that forward Tyrone McCarthy will leave at the end of the season and join NRL side St George Illawarra.

The 27-year-old Irish international has been acting captain of Hull KR following Terry Campese's injury but has exercised an option in his contract allowing him to depart if an NRL offer came in.

McCarthy, who played for Northern Pride in Queensland last season, has signed a two-year deal with St George Illawarra and says playing at the top level in Australia is a long-standing ambition.

He told the Hull KR website: "It's been a tough decision to make, as I've really enjoyed playing for the club this season.

"There's a great group of players here at the moment, who make it enjoyable to come to training every day, and it's been a huge honour to lead them

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"Captaining such a proud and historic club like Hull KR in the Challenge Cup Final was one of the highlights of my career so far, despite the result (a loss to Leeds) , and I would have been very happy to stay at the club.

"It's always been one of my ambitions to play in the NRL though and joining St George for next season was an opportunity that, in the end, I couldn't afford to turn down.

"I loved my time in Australia last season and I'm looking forward to challenging myself against some of the best players in the world.

"However, I've got a job to do here first and I'll be doing my very best to finish the year strongly with Hull KR. We've put ourselves in a good position in the Super 8s and we need to kick on and end the season on a high.

"That's the least we owe to the fans who have been great with me ever since I came to the club.

"I'd heard good things before I arrived but they've surpassed all expectations and I can't thank them enough for everything they have done for me and the boys."

Head coach Chris Chester said: "It's disappointing to lose Tyrone for next season as he's impressed everybody on and off the field this year.

"He's been a consistent performer and has taken on a leadership role on the field since Terry's injury, but we understand his ambition to test himself in the NRL and he will leave with our best wishes at the end of the season.

"We've already begun to look at a replacement for Tyrone in our squad for 2016 and hope to make an announcement on this in the near future."