Why Curtis Scott’s looming arrival will make-or-break Joey Leilua
Melbourne back Curtis Scott is tipped for a move to Canberra, but with captain Jarrod Croker locked into the club’s left centre role, it’ll put the Storm young gun in a battle with the erratic but brilliant Joey Leilua.
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This might be the making of Joey Leilua, but it also has the potential to be the end of his days in the NRL.
With Jordan Rapana heading for a code switch to Japanese rugby, Curtis Scott’s pending arrival at the Raiders has now turned up the heat on the wild side of the “Leipana” magic act like never before.
Long regarded as one of the game’s most destructive but volatile players, it makes you wonder if this decision to chase Scott has been specifically designed to leave Leilua with no option but to change his ways.
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At his best there is no question Leilua is still one of the game’s most dangerous attacking weapons.
But too often his defensive lapses along with his propensity to let his emotions get the better of him have been his undoing.
Off contract at the end of next season, there has been constant speculation for months that the Samoan international may be on the move.
But so far no rival club has shown a genuine interest to take him.
That hasn’t stopped the Raiders offering Scott a four-year deal that will guarantee his long term future from 2020.
Leilua has publicly guaranteed that he will be playing out the final year of his contract with Canberra, but that does not guarantee his spot in Ricky Stuart’s team going forward.
The fact is there isn’t room for him and Scott in the same team.
Rapana’s departure has opened up a spot on the wing, but while Scott would no doubt be capable of playing there what can’t be disputed is that he is a specialist centre.
Given Jarrod Croker owns the left centre position, that means Leilua and Scott will be fighting it out all summer to see who deserves first crack on the right edge.
The Raiders are due back for pre-season in early December and by that stage Scott’s deal will be finalised.
The other factor in Scott’s favour is that he is only 22 while Leilua turns 28 in December.
It’s one of several tough contract negotiations the Raiders will be challenged with in the coming months with Croker, Nick Cotric and Jack Wighton also off contract at the end of next season.
Cotric and Wighton will no doubt receive huge interest from rival clubs.
Cotric has the potential to also establish himself as a top class centre although he’s played his best football on the wing and that is where his future will be if the stays at the Raiders.
Wighton will also be out to back up his best season when the Clive Churchill Medal winner teams up with new halves partner, Englishman George Williams.
Wighton had an option to extend his deal until the end of 2021 but knocked that back after a recent change of management.
No doubt the Raiders will want this all settled sooner rather than later so it doesn’t become a disruption when the new season kicks off.
Originally published as Why Curtis Scott’s looming arrival will make-or-break Joey Leilua