The Warriors have confirmed that fullback Reece Walsh won't relocate to New Zealand in 2023 after they announced Canberra's Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad as his replacement.
Walsh has been linked with a move to Brisbane, the club from which he was released to join the Warriors in 2021.
The Warriors have moved quickly to sign Nicoll-Klokstad, 26, on a three-year deal after the Raiders granted the Kiwi international a release on compassionate grounds.
The Warriors have followed suit and allowed Walsh, 19, to return to Queensland to be with his young daughter.
Both players will play out their respective seasons before moving on.
"There has been a major change in Reece's personal circumstances in the past two months which have impacted on his ability to move to Auckland with the club next season," Warriors chief executive Cameron George said.
"We're working through his situation and have given him permission, with some conditions, to look at options in Brisbane.
"It's not the way either Reece or the club had wanted this to play out but we respect the issues he has."
Nicoll-Klokstad looms as a reliable replacement.
His NRL career began at the Warriors before being given a lifeline from Canberra.
He played in the Raiders teams which reached the 2019 grand final and the 2020 preliminary final, and earned caps for New Zealand.
Nicoll-Klokstad has been separated from his two sons who returned to live in Auckland last year.
"He's (Nicoll-Klokstad) has been very good for the club both on and off the field and we wish him all the best for the rest of this season before he returns home to New Zealand to be closer to his family next year," Canberra chief executive Don Furner said.
Rookie Xavier Savage is Canberra's only fullback and the Raiders may yet go to market to strengthen following the departure of Nicoll-Klokstad, with recent reports in England linking them to Hull FC's Jake Connor.