Tigers star Luciano Leilua leaves for Cowboys ‘effective immediately’

The Wests Tigers have lost another star after he walked out on the club in order to join one of the competition high-flyers for a premiership tilt.

Luciano Leilua is leaving the Tigers. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

In the latest proof that NRL contracts mean nothing, Wests Tigers second rower Luciano Leilua has been granted a release to join the North Queensland Cowboys immediately.

Leilua signed a reported three-year $2.1 million deal to join the Townsville side last November but the Tigers stood in his way of an immediate defection.

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It was believed the Cowboys, who have been the real surprise packets of the NRL season and are sitting in third, wanted Leilua from the beginning of the season.

However, after Michael Maguire’s exit from the club and the Tigers sitting in 13th just after the halfway mark of the season, the club have had a change of heart.

The Daily Telegraphreported the second rower had quit the Tigers and although not lining up for either side this week, would relocate north for the remainder of the season and for next year.

He was also uncomfortable about walking out on the Tigers mid-season because of the current predicament of the club.

It would both save the Tigers from a salary cap position this year and complete the Cowboys finals-bound roster as the club had reportedly saved money for Leilua in the hopes of nabbing him before the August 1 trade deadline.

The move comes at the perfect time for the Cowboys after news young gun forward Heilum Luki had suffered a season-ending knee injury.

NRL Rd 5 - Sharks v Wests Tigers

But on Fox League’s NRL 360, Paul Kent said Leilua’s performances had begun to be “subpar” and it left the Tigers no choice.

“The Tigers did have the option of saying ‘go back to reserve grade and sit there’ but that means they’ve still got to pay him so there’s no incentive,” he said. “It doesn’t help the Tigers, they suffer from a salary cap point of view because of that so they might as well let him go.”

But The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley said it sent an awful message to the Tigers faithful during a dark time for the club.

“It works for the Cowboys but it’s another kick in the guts for Tigers fans,” he said.

“It just shows that their players aren’t committed, or not all of their players are committed.

“How can you walk out on your team half way through the season if you are committed? And as Kenty said, his performance on the weekend was below average.”

“It was and that’s why he had to go,” Braith Anasta added.

“If he’s not going to turn up and play like he should be, because he’s a talented player and he’ll have a lot to offer the Cowboys.”

Leilua has been one of the Tigers’ best. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

Leilua had arguably been the Tigers’ best player since he arrived from St George Illawarra in 2020.

The Tigers are set to welcome reigning second rower of the year Isaiah Papali’i from the Parramatta Eels and the Panthers’ Api Koroisau next season.

The Tigers confirmed Leilua had been released “effective immediately”, with CEO Justin Pascoe adding: “We wish Luciano the very best with his future. He and his family have made a lot of friends here at the Wests Tigers and they will be missed.”

Cowboys general manager of football Micheal Luck said when the contract was signed that he was looking forward to adding Leilua’s experience to the side.

However, he also had to deny reports the club were having buyers remorse after the rise of the likes of Jeremiah Nanai, Tom Gilbert and Luki firing in 2022.

Originally published as Tigers star Luciano Leilua leaves for Cowboys ‘effective immediately’