Manly has confirmed the signing of Wests Tigers forward Martin Taupau after the deal was leaked by a Canadian theatre critic.

The Sea Eagles confirmed the signing of the New Zealand international on a four-year deal but not before his contract was accidentally emailed to Canadian theatre critic Martin James Kelleher Nestruck

Nestruck, who goes by the name of J.Kelly Nestruck and bears the same first initial and surname as Manly chief executive Joe Kelly on his email address, received Taupau's new contract by mistake.

Nestruck announced on Twitter that he had received the documents and said they were sent to him in error by a British notary public.

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The incredible error made Nestruck a trending topic on Twitter in Sydney - surely for first and last time.

Taupau's player agent Darryl Mather, described news of Nestruck's revelation as "extraordinarily frustrating", but he was leaving further comment to the two clubs.

Manly and the Wests Tigers later followed with statements confirming the deal.

"In a stunning coup, 25-year-old Taupau will join the Sea Eagles from 2016," the Manly club said in a statement.

Taupau, who is in the UK touring with the New Zealand side, said he is looking forward to the opportunity to play with some of the stars of the game including Jamie Lyon, Brett Stewart and Daly Cherry-Evans.

"It is a fresh beginning at the Sea Eagles under new head coach Trent Barrett and I'm really looking forward to playing under him," Taupau said.

ABC/AAP