Canberra Raiders plot Luciano Leilua heist amid $3.6m call

A fresh suitor has joined the hunt for Luciano Leilua’s signature after he asked the North Queensland Cowboys for an immediate release.

The plot thickens in the Luciano Leilua sweepstakes. Photo: Getty Images

The Canberra Raiders have reportedly entered the race for North Queensland Cowboys second rower Luciano Leilua.

The hard-running 27-year-old back rower requested an immediate release from the Cowboys, less than a month before the start of the NRL season.

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While initially it seemed an open-shut deal for Leilua to return to the Dragons, the club he debuted at in 2016 and played 43 games, but it may not be as certain as it seems.

The Daily Telegraph and Fox Sports have reported that the Raiders are firming as a potential spoiler for the Dragons as new coach Shane Flanagan looks to revitalise his team.

However, it may come down to who’s willing to open the wallet for Leilua amid reports he’s chasing a four-year deal worth $900,000 a season.

As the $3.6 million reveal emerged, the Raiders also reportedly baulked at the figure, while The Daily Telegraph reported the Dragons, while keen, had also rejected the price tag.

Leilua is a bustling second-rower. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The Raiders have potential salary cap space, which could increase as the club awaits the final decision on Corey Harawira-Naera’s medical retirement.

If Harawira-Naera is medically retired, it will free up about $650,000.

Hawawira-Naera suffered a seizure on-field last year. Coach Ricky Stuart said it was a “tragedy” and said the 28-year-old is “very unlikely to play again”.

The player himself though wasn’t as convinced last December, taking to Instagram to write: “Nothing confirmed yet whanau (family), more to come from my end.”

The Cowboys are resigned to losing Leilua, having given him permission negotiate with other clubs.

Leilua and his management have met with Dragons officials during the week.

If the Dragons are able to sign Leilua, one player will have to be cut as the club already have their Top 30 set.

The Cowboys have the likes of Heilum Luki and Kuilikefu Finefeuiaki in discussions about extending their deals, meaning Leilua’s exit would open up more bargaining chips.

On Fox Sports, James Hooper said the potential signing of Leilua by the Raiders “would rank as one of the best signing coups of the off season”.

The Raiders recruited Panthers forward Zac Hosking over the off-season, with a strong forward pack including Joe Tapine, Josh Papali’i, Hudson Young, Elliott Whitehead and Corey Horsburgh.

Adding Leilua would give even more depth to a pack already heaving with international and Origin experience.

Leilua himself is a Samoan rep. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

NRL icon Wendell Sailor said he’d like to welcome Leilua back at the Red V.

“I’d like to see him take a little less and go back to the Dragons because in the next three or four years he could do anything in the game,” Sailor said.

“He’s a great talent but he hasn’t reached his pinnacle yet.”

Leilua has played solid football since joining the Cowboys at the start of the 2022 season, however his time up north has been plagued with controversy.

In October 2022, he was charged with two counts of assault but those charges wound up being dropped last year.

More recently, Leilua was caught drink driving and had his licence suspended for a month.