The Raiders winger has reportedly signed a lucrative deal with French club Pau to leave the NRL this year.

Earl tweeted a link to a story on starspoon.com early on Friday morning.

It means his blossoming on-field combination and friendship with Blake Ferguson is set to end less than two years after the pair teamed up for the Green Machine.

Ferguson is preparing to make his State of Origin debut for NSW on Wednesday night.

The duo formed a scintillating partnership on the field for the Raiders last season to help launch a late season revival and charge into the NRL finals.

They became best friends away from rugby league. They went on dinner dates, their teammates suspected "flirting" and shared game-day superstitions.

They then coined the term "Dorguson" and got tattoos of their supername.

Ferguson's career has rocketed this season after early alcohol related indiscretions, including the rooftop debacle with sacked Raider Josh Dugan.

Earl has been finding his best form, but he was dropped to reserve grade last weekend and missed the Raiders' clash with Manly.

Earl's management contacted the ACT Brumbies earlier this year to gauge their interest in recruiting the NRL winger.

But Brumbies coach Jake White declined the approach.

Now the 23-year-old is understood to have signed a deal worth up to $220,000 and is set to join Pau at the end of Canberra's NRL campaign.

Pau is a second division team in French rugby. Former Brumby Afusipa Taumoepeau is on their roster.

Earl joined the Raiders last season on a mid-year switch from the Penrith Panthers after he struggled to break into the first-grade side.

He started his career at the Sydney Roosters.

His former in Canberra was good enough to earn him a one-year contract extension, but the financial lure of French rugby will see him leave the capital after just one and a half seasons.