Saint, sinner, shoosh: NRL investigating Luciano Leilua over failure to report DUI offence
The NRL has strict rules around players and club reporting any police charges to the integrity unit. Phil Rothfield reveals the NRL is now investigating Luciano Leilua about his drink-driving offence.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The NRL is investigating St George-Illawarra’s new signing Luciano Leilua’s failure to disclose a recent drink-driving offence.
His former club the Cowboys and the NRL were kept in the dark for weeks, only made aware of his indiscretion via a phone call tip-off from a local newspaper editor.
Townsville Bulletin editor Cas Garvey phoned Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel when Leilua turned up to court on February 7 in a T-shirt, shorts and joggers — and without a solicitor to represent him.
It was almost three weeks after he had been charged. Reibel was straight on the phone to the NRL to alert the integrity unit.
The NRL has strict guidelines around players and clubs reporting any police charges or off-field misbehaviour. It has to be done straight away.
On January 21, the Dragons’ new signing was stopped by police at 12.35am in Townsville. He recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.052 – just above the legal limit.
He pleaded guilty in court and was issued a $300 fine and a one-month driving suspension.
Leilua was interviewed by the integrity unit last week, and now faces a possible fine.
It turns out he had not even informed his manager Mario Tartak of the charges.
The drink-driving charge, his failure to alert the club and, according to club sources, a poor attitude at training, is why Reibel and coach Todd Payten gave him the OK to negotiate elsewhere.
You certainly don’t let such explosive edge forwards loose unless there is a good reason.
There were reservations by some officials at St George-Illawarra before he was signed to a three-year $1.8 million contract last week.
Coach Shane Flanagan has no doubts he will add enormous strike power to his struggling club.
It’s a matter of getting him right off the field.
An NRL spokesman said: “The NRL Integrity Unit is aware of the matter and is liaising with relevant parties.”
OTHERWISE ENGAGED: TIGERS’ LAUNCH NO-SHOW
It’s hard to recall a club season launch with no appearance from its major sponsor.
Axed Wests Tigers chairman and Brydens Lawyers principal Lee Hagipantelis was a no-show at the club launch last week. When we asked why, Hagipantelis said: “I was otherwise engaged.” He declined to comment further.
SAINT
The rule explanation video Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe shot for the American market has had more than a million downloads on the NRL app in the build-up to Las Vegas. The going rate for A-list celebrities to endorse such an event would normally be tens of thousands of dollars. Crowe did it free of charge.
SINNER
The never-ending speculation around supercoach Wayne Bennett’s future. He was supposed to replace Michael Maguire with the Kiwis and then the NZRL appointed Stacey Jones. He was supposed to be heading to the Eels. But CEO Jim Sarantinos says: “This is wrong and has never been discussed.”
SHOOSH
Which NRL players were overheard whingeing about having to attend a recent fan day. It’s interesting in that it’s the same club and same players who’ve previously been criticised for heading straight to the sheds after games without interacting with their fans.
SHOOSH
Which Penrith official scored tickets to Liverpool’s EPL match against Luton at Anfield on Thursday, which came straight from the club allocation reserved for star forward Mohammed Salah, who’s on a measly $670,000 a week.
SPOTTED
We told you 12 months ago that ex-NRL star Mitchell Pearce had given up the grog. Plenty said it wouldn’t last. Well, it has. Pearce is on a French Alps skiing holiday with his partner and hasn’t touched a drop.
SPOTTED
The AFL Gather Round in Adelaide is now as popular as the NRL Magic Round in Brisbane. Eight of nine matches are already sold out at the three venues. That includes general tickets and corporates. The NRL under Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo is flying at the moment but the AFL is also doing great things.
SPOTTED
Footy fans love their rugby league. Streaming service Kayo had a huge subscription spike to coincide with Foxtel’s coverage of the NRL trials. The network had three times the number of new subscribers last week compared with the same time last year.
BIG BREKKY
Catch you on the Weekend Big Sports Breakfast on Sunday morning at 9.30am with Ray Thomas and Neil Breen, filling in for Dean ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie, to discuss all things rugby league.
D-DAY FOR SPAGNOLO EELS RETURN
The Parramatta Eels will know on Tuesday if former chairman Roy Spagnolo has been successful in his boardroom comeback attempt when final votes are tallied for Leagues club directors.
Spagnolo is an Eels tragic with the number plate PARRA on his Maserati. He was ousted eight years ago when the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority found he had not demonstrated the skills and knowledge expected of a club director.
“I have some unfinished business,” he said. “Business where I think I can assist the club.”
Almost $1 million was spent in legal fees to try and stop his return, but the courts cleared the way for him to stand again.
“I have something to offer,” he said. “The place is still fragmented. Part of my platform is to fix that.”
Spagnolo is passionate about members having more influence on the football club board.
“They lost their ability to have a say in what goes on in the football club when the constitution was changed,” he said. “The broader membership needs to have a greater say in the running of the football operations.”
SOUTHS’ STADIUM MOVES
It’s common knowledge Souths have been looking to play out of Allianz Stadium rather than have all the empty seats at Accor.
This is why it was so interesting to spot Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly having a round of golf with Venues NSW chairman David Gallop last week, no doubt chatting about the stadiums.
CRICKET’S BRUTAL CULL
Cricket NSW made a bit of noise last week about appointing Rachael Haynes and Trent Copeland as the general managers of the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.
What wasn’t mentioned is the changes came as a part of a broader restructure that saw four senior staffers axed with no warning.
Among them was longtime Chief Operating Officer Michael Dalton who, despite more than a decade of loyal service, was made redundant and asked to leave cricket’s new HQ at Wilson Park on the same day. That’s a brutal dismissal after a pretty good innings.
DOGS’ DOOMSDAY CLOCK
Canterbury Bulldogs have 10 weeks to quash growing anger from members over the sacking of popular chairman John Khoury and the manner in which he was unceremoniously dumped.
It has infuriated members that newly elected chairman Adam Driussi has never been voted onto the board at an election – and how he orchestrated the coup that brought down Khoury.
Driussi waited until late last year when nominations closed for the football club elections – with no new applicants – before making his move.
That way members were kept in the dark and could not organise their own ticket to protest over Khoury’s dismissal.
There is now talk of members calling an EGM and a ballot for board positions.
Much will depend on how the team performs in the first 10 weeks of the comp.
Aggrieved members are mindful of not upsetting the football operations and attracting negative media coverage around more boardroom bloodshed. They’ve had enough turmoil with four different chairs in seven years – Ray Dib, Lynne Anderson, Khoury and now Driussi.
However, if the team fails to perform, the members will make a move.
Your columnist has been inundated with messages of support for the former chairman.
Publicly, Khoury has accepted his demotion.
The spin out of Belmore would have you believe all are united. Privately it’s a different story. Khoury has been hurt and embarrassed.
Especially around the people he hired at Belmore – football general manager Phil Gould and CEO Aaron Warburton. Plus he put Driussi on the board just 18 months ago.
And then they turned on him.
QUAYLE’S OVERDUE ACCOLADE
John Quayle has been appointed a life member of the Sydney Roosters in a long overdue recognition of his contribution to the club over more than 50 years.
Quayle joined the Eastern Suburbs Roosters way back in 1968 as a bush football rookie and played four seasons at the club before being poached by the Parramatta Eels.
He returned to Bondi Junction as a lower grade coach, selector, football manager and senior administrator.
Quayle took over as the boss of the NSWRL in 1983 and had 14 years in the role during the game’s toughest years.
“There has not been a more deserving recipient of life membership,” said Roosters chairman Nick Politis.
“John Quayle has been an outstanding administrator, a passionate Roosters man and a person highly respected across the entire game.”
MANLY STARS’ HEARTWARMING ACT
NRL players never get enough credit for their generous work behind the scenes.
Manly Sea Eagles stars Haumole Olakau’atu and Jason Saab recently heard of a youngster in Sydney Children’s Hospital battling leukaemia.
Ignacio Madrid is a Manly fanatic but is obviously doing it very tough.
The two Manly players turned up with a signed jersey.
They did it themselves without even their club knowing.
It was brought to the attention of CEO Tony Mestrov via an email from Ignacio’s dad.
“They were amazing,” his dad wrote.
“Both funny, very humble and absolutely a credit not only to themselves but also to the club. Please thank them.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Saint, sinner, shoosh: NRL investigating Luciano Leilua over failure to report DUI offence
Gus’ ‘doctored’ claim ignites NRL conspiracy
The NRL Grand Final’s controversial no try scandal has taken a wild turn despite the game releasing the angle the decision was based on.
Kangaroos selection shocks: NRL legends’ Test careers appear over
Mal Meninga has dropped a major selection bombshell by overlooking both James Tedesco and Kalyn Ponga for Kangaroos selection, with the list of surprise omissions and debutants not ending there. See the full squad.