Hall was earlier this year linked to the Gold Coast Titans, but Panthers boss Phil Gould has been patiently negotiating in the background for several months. Hall told his Suns teammates on Tuesday that he was switching to rugby league on a two-year deal.

'Genuine ability': Panthers boss Phil Gould says Josh Hall has all the attributes to succeed in the NRL. Credit:Getty Images

Standing at 197cm and weighing 88kgs, and with a vertical leap that made him so desirable to AFL scouts in the first place, Hall has already been earmarked as an outside back in the same mould as AFL convert Israel Folau.

"If Josh can make a successful transition from one code to this code, with a position in the outside backs, leaping high for cross-field kicks, who knows how many others will follow?" said Gould.

The signing comes at a time when rugby league players are excelling in other codes, from Jarryd Hayne on his NFL journey with the San Francisco 49ers to rugby converts Folau and Sam Burgess with England ahead of the Rugby World Cup.