Luciano Leilua finds hunger for success after ditching McDonalds drive-though diet

BOOM St George Illawarra forward Luciano Leilua has ditched the Maccas drive-through and it’s paying dividends on the field and on the scales.

Luciano Leilua cut his drive-through diet in the preseason. Picture. Phil Hillyard

BOOM St George Illawarra forward Luciano Leilua has ditched the Maccas drive-through and it’s paying dividends on the field and on the scales.

Coach Paul McGregor looks set to call upon Leilua to start in the backrow — for only the second time in the 22-year-old’s career — in place of Blues forward Tyson Frizell.

But it wasn’t that long ago when Leilua’s weight threatened his prospects as an NRL player.

KENT: Luke Lewis’ mum on her star son’s retirement

CALL THE COPS! Raiders robbed by referee shocker

Luciano Leilua cut his drive-through diet in the preseason. Picture. Phil Hillyard

He made his debut for the Dragons in 2016 and played five games off the bench at the end the season. He wasn’t sighted in a Red V jumper the next year, with his battle with the bulge getting the better of him.

But after, as he describes it, “blowing up” in weight last year, Leilua says he finally has his fitness and eating habits under control.

Small changes are making a big difference.

Instead of indulging in fast food on the way home from training, he now tucks into pre-prepared meals designed to keep the weight off.

Leilua dropped plenty of weight with his new diet and a big preseason. Picture: Brett Costello

“I would say Maccas was my go-to when I wasn’t eating so healthy,” Leilua said.

“I don’t do it now. We have some food programs we do here — it’s called My Muscle Chef and that helps me stay on top of things.

“I order a few boxes of those and now I eat that on the way home.”

Teammate Paul Vaughan praised Leilua’s development as a player this season.

He says Dragons fans should get used to seeing more of the kind of performances Leilua had last week against Wests Tigers, when he set up a try for Matt Dufty in the 20-16 loss.

The trimmed up Leilua is set to start for the injured Tyson Frizell against the Cowboys. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“He’s a freak,” Vaughan said. “He’s looked after himself with his diet and that sort of stuff and he’s so skilful.

“He’s a big dude and he loves playing footy. He’s got a real good footy brain and that’s pretty impressive.”

Leilua says his first responsibility is to always do what is required of him as a forward, but if an attacking opportunity presented itself, he’s confident in his ability.

“It’s just one of those things for me, look up and play footy.”

Watch every game of every round of the 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership on FOX SPORTS. SIGN UP NOW >

Originally published as Luciano Leilua finds hunger for success after ditching McDonalds drive-though diet