Joey Leilua cleared to return to Wests Tigers after leaving club bubble for personal reasons

Star centre Joey Leilua has been cleared by the NRL to return for the Wests Tigers after a timeline of his movements after leaving the club’s bubble was scrutinised by biosecurity experts.

Wests Tigers centre Joey Leilua has walked out on the NRL club.

Joey Leilua will be free to play for the Wests Tigers this weekend after being cleared to return by the NRL.

The NRL asked the Wests Tigers for a documented timeline of Leilua’s movements before allowing him to re-enter the bubble. It is unclear if the Tigers will pick him to play the Bulldogs.

He travelled to Canberra on Wednesday night, telling club officials he had to leave for family reasons. Leilua spent the night in Canberra before returning to Sydney on Thursday.

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Joey Leilua (green singlet) was all smiles at training on Tuesday, next to his brother Luciano and teammates Benji Marshall and Russell Packer. Picture: Phil Hillyard

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“Confirming after a meeting of Apollo biosecurity experts this evening and a full assessment of the circumstances including the player’s interactions, Joey Leilua is free to return to Wests Tigers’ bubble with immediate effect,” an NRL spokesman said on Thursday night

Leilua’s family have been struggling with living inside the bubble. He took his partner and young children to be with family in Canberra to help provide extra support.

He joined the club from Canberra last year. The 28-year-old had only just returned in the Tigers’ last-start loss to Newcastle after serving a four-game suspension for hit on Penrith’s Dylan Edwards.

He had been named to start at centre against the last-placed Bulldogs this weekend.

Joey Leilua has just returned from a four-match ban for this hit on Penrith’s Dylan Edwards.

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Originally published as Joey Leilua cleared to return to Wests Tigers after leaving club bubble for personal reasons