The Wests Tigers will today attempt to talk strike back-rower Luciano Leilua out of a request for an immediate release to join North Queensland.
Leilua has agreed to terms with the Cowboys for 2023 – but wants out now after problems with Tigers management prior to the arrival of new supremo Tim Sheens.
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The giant forward is determined to leave despite having another year on his contract and a player swap with the Cowboys may also be on the cards.
“The club has disrespected him,” a source close to Leilua told Wide World of Sports.
“They didn’t come back to us in negotiations and then signed a player in his position from a rival club last week. He was one of their most consistent players in 2021 and deserves to be treated better.”
On his day, Leilua is a strike weapon and was one of the Tigers’ better players last season.
The club is resigned to losing him in 2023 and has signed a ready-made replacement in much-improved Eels forward Isaah Papili’i.
But Sheens is keen to keep Leilua on board for 2022 if he can persuade him to shelve his plans to go north.
A Tigers source said the club was determined to dig its heels in over the matter.
“He isn’t going anywhere next year – just as we kept telling people Luke Brooks isn’t going anywhere,” the source said.
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