Kai O'Donnell played 25 matches for North Queensland Cowboys, including 18 in 2025 and seven in 2026, before leaving to return to Leigh Leopards.
The 27-year-old will rejoin the English Super League club for the 2027 season.
He made 77 appearances and scored 31 tries for Leigh between 2022 and 2024, becoming a fan favourite.
Before that spell, he played four games for Canberra Raiders in 2020.
Reports linked him with a Leigh return during 2026, while coach Adrian Lam made clear he wanted O'Donnell back.
O'Donnell was later listed among the Cowboys' departing players for 2026.
Since promotion at the end of 2022, Leigh have reached the play-offs three times.
O'Donnell said: "When the opportunity came to rejoin, I jumped at the chance and I can't wait to get back home."
He added: "Lammy is a coach I have the utmost respect and admiration for."
"He's really developed me as a player, and I think my time in the past under him has brought out my best football," O'Donnell said in a Leigh statement.