Joey Leilua opens up on rugby league return for Dapto Canaries, boxing career

Two years ago, Joey Leilua was earning $700,000 a year at the Wests Tigers. He’s now signed a deal to play park football with the Dapto Canaries while he works on his boxing career.

Joseph Leilua is making his professional boxing debut against Chris Heighington after being released by the Wests Tigers. Photo by Brett Costello

Former NRL star Joey Leilua has signed a deal to play park football with the Dapto Canaries following his departure from UK side the Featherstone Rovers.

Just two years from when he was earning $700,000 a season with the Wests Tigers, Leilua will split his time between playing in the Illawarra competition on weekends while pursuing a boxing career.

But Leilua, who turns 32 on Tuesday, insists it isn’t part of a plan to springboard back into the NRL, where he played more than 200 games with the Sydney Roosters, Newcastle, Canberra and Wests Tigers.

Joey Leilua is focusing on his boxing career. Picture: Brett Costello

“It’s just for 15 games, that’s all. It’s a part-time job. I’m done with professional football” Leilua said.

“The $700,000 days were a long time ago. I’ve done enough for my family, we have a nice house, we are living comfortably so it’s all good.”

Leilua has linked up with the Canaries following two seasons in England, where he scored 32 tries in his 46 appearances with the Rovers.

Leilua was one of 17 players to exit the Rovers after the club failed to earn promotion to the Super League.

He wouldn’t comment on his Rovers departure, but a source told this masthead that the UK club still owed Leilua the last two payments of his contract.

Leilua is set to jump back in the ring on Saturday night against Paul Ben in what will be his second professional fight.

“This is a good job, you know. I still need to make an income. At least this way I get to play football on the weekend and still get to do boxing with Huss (trainer Hassan El-Achrafi) during the year so it’s a win-win situation for me,” Leilua said.

The Canaries took to social media recently to announce their newest signing.

Leilua says he is done with the NRL, but will play park footy in 2024 after signing with the Dapto Canaries.

“On behalf of the Dapto Rugby League Football Club, we would like to welcome Joseph ‘BJ’ Leilua to the club for the upcoming 2024 competition,” the Canaries said on Instagram.

“BJ will be bringing a wealth of knowledge to the club over 200 NRL games and 15 internationals for Samoa.”

Saturday will be Leilua’s second professional fight after his winning debut against fellow former NRL player Chris Heighington in 2021.

“I started boxing two years ago about September-October and had my first fight in December”, Leilua said.

“I was sick around that time, I had Covid. I was in the hospital for 21 days and was in the ICU for three. I almost died but I had two weeks to get back in shape to fight. I did it to prove people wrong, to prove that I could still do it.”

Leilua has proved to be a fighter physically and emotionally.

“I lost passion in football, I just wanted to do something new, and boxing gave me that,” Leilua said.

“Huss made me feel like footy isn’t everything, so he made me fall back in love with footy when I got back to training and got fit again.

“I enjoyed it. I enjoy getting hit in the face, and punching people in the face, so it was a win-win situation.”