A new opportunity awaits Luciano Leilua once 2023 rolls around with the back-rower signing with the North Queensland Cowboys.
Leilua’s deal at the Cowboys will be for three years but his current club, the Wests Tigers, refuse to release him early.
So, Leilua will play for the Tigers in 2022, before making the move to the Cowboys.
With 85 NRL games to his name to date, the Tigers believe Leilua will be committed to playing well in 2022.
Reaching his peak as a forward, Leilua will have a chance to lead from the front at the Cowboys.
He will also have an opportunity to help guide and watch the development of youngsters like Heilum Luki and Jeremiah Nanai.
The Cowboys were keen to add Leilua, who is a Samoan international, as he is a guy they see as someone you can build around.
“We’ve always been steadfast on our desire to add more experience to our forward pack, particularly in the edge back-row position,” Cowboys General Manager of Football Micheal Luck said.
“Luciano is developing into an 80-minute back-rower and he has some tools in his kit bag that not a lot of other players possess.”
Luck went on to praise Leilua’s offloading abilities and his improving fitness and knows the good he can do for their young forwards.
He’s a threat with the footy and he can create for others through his passing, offloading, and his ability to break the line,” Luck continued.
“We believe he will add a significant point of difference to our attack and will be difficult for opposing defences to plan against.
“We’re also excited about the lessons Luciano can teach our young forwards through his experiences during the early years of his NRL career.”
