VA'AIGA Tuigamala yesterday waved goodbye to Wigan and headed for Newcastle, saying the offer from the wealthy rugby union club was too good to turn down.

The second division promotion favourites unveiled the 27-year-old centre at a news conference yesterday after he signed a five-year deal that will cost the Kingston Park club £1 million.

Newcastle are believed to have more than doubled his Wigan salary to acquire their 14th international.

"I want to thank the Wigan club and their supporters for making me feel so welcome but I feel it is time to move on, said Tuigamala yesterday.

"The move to Newcastle has presented me with an opportunity, that I just couldn't turn down. It's an opportunity that enables me to return to the game I was brought up on."

Wigan, said to be £3.3 million in debt, accepted an offer in excess of £500,000 for the one-time All Blacks winger, with chairman Jack Robinson claiming the move was inevitable.

Robinson said: "We have done our utmost to retain Inga's services but, as much as we wanted to keep him, his move was inevitable.

"Inga has given us three years magnificent service and obviously we are sorry to see him go.

"He has been a great ambassador for the club but Inga felt that the opportunity to return to rugby union was one that he just couldn't turn down because it will set him up financially for life."

Since joining Wigan in January, 1994, Tuigamala has won two Challenge Cup winners' medals two Regal `Trophy winners', medals and a Premiership winners medal.

He also helped the club lift the championship and he was in the squad that travelled to Australia and beat Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge.

"I've had three marvellous years at Central Park and I have never once regretted my decision to leave the All Blacks and play professional rugby league at Wigan," he said.

"I'll be taking with me a host of great memories ... my first Challenge Cup final appearance against Leeds just four months after I turned professional.

"I had played in big matches before for the All Blacks and in front of huge crowds, but I never thought that Wembley would compare in atmosphere. It was a magnificent occasion and one that I will never ever forget.

"In just three years, I have been lucky enough to win so many honours and to play alongside so many great players. It's been a marvellous time."