NEWCASTLE skipper Kurt Gidley is poised to announce he will end a decorated 15 year stint in the NRL at the end of this season to play out his career with English Super League club Warrington.

Gidley is expected to make an announcement on his future as early as this week with Warrington beating Super League rivals Catalans Dragons to secure his signature.

The news of Gidley’s departure will come as no great surprise with the utility star having expressed a desire in the past to possibly end his career in England.

His brother Matthew, the current Knights CEO, did exactly that, spending four seasons with St Helens before retiring and returning to Australia with his young family.

Influential former Knights Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus also enjoyed playing stints in the Old Dart during their careers.

Gidley’s departure will bring down the curtain on an outstanding NRL career which kicked off in 2001, the year the Knights won their last premiership.

In that time, he has played 236 NRL games, representing the Kangaroos on 12 occasions and played 12 games for the NSW Blues and was widely regarded as one of the game’s best utility players having played fullback and hooker at the elite level and most positions in between.

It is understood the emergence of some outstanding young backline talent at the Knights headed by the Mata’utia brothers Sione, Pat and Chanel and Jake Mamo was an influence on Gidley’s decision.

The Knights skipper has made it clear he would not stand in the way of the club retaining their young players.

Ironically, after playing with Korbin and Tariq Sims this season at the Knights, he will link with older brother Ashton at Warrington next season.