North Queensland have landed Kiwis centre Esan Marsters on a three-year deal as they bolster their NRL backline for 2020.

Marsters was released by the Wests Tigers last week and is free to join the Cowboys over the summer, in time for their return to pre-season training next month.

Consistent performer: Esan Marsters will shore up the Cowboys' outside-backs stocks. Credit:AAP

The move is a crucial one for the Cowboys considering they let Jordan Kahu go at the end of the season, as the New Zealander weighs up whether to make the switch to rugby union.

Fellow 2019 backline recruits Ben Barba and Nene Macdonald also failed to see out the season, with Barba's exit for behavioural reasons confirmed before a game was even played this year.