The Singleton Greyhounds junior brokered a deal with Melbourne after being told it was unlikely he would be offered a new contract for 2022 by the Knights.

His departure comes just 24 hours after teammate Connor Watson announced he was quitting the Knights at the end of the season to link with the Sydney Roosters on a two-year deal.

Clearly pre-empting King's call on his future, Knights coach Adam O'Brien told the Newcastle Herald on Tuesday Watson would not be the only current player to be leaving at the end of the season.

King 26, exits after spending the past eight years at the Knights, playing in the club's NYC Under 20's back in 2014 and 2015.

READ MORE: Watson quits Knights: "It won't derail us"

He made his NRL debut against the Brisbane Broncos back in 2016 under Nathan Brown while still working as a coal-mining apprentice electrician and has since featured in 74 top-grade games, mostly off the bench.

One of the most highly regarded and respected players within the Knights ranks, King was nominated by the club this season for the Ken Stephen Medal because of his hospital community work away from rugby league.

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