Angry Tigers fans have a message for enigmatic backrower Luciano Leilua – good riddance.
Even before Leilua quit the Tigers on Tuesday to join the Cowboys, fans were demanding he be dropped after a sub-standard performance in the 30-4 thrashing by Manly on Saturday.
Leilua was one of the most dynamic players in the Tigers line-up earlier in the season but when he signed with the Cowboys for 2023, his football went downhill fast.
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The disgruntled fans believe Leilua’s heart and head had already left Concord and his stats against Manly were hardly flattering.
Leilia made just seven runs for 68 metres and missed five tackles at Campbelltown, with the Tigers agreeing to cut him loose just a few days later.
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ENGLISH COACH EYEING NRL JOB
A leading English coach has emerged as a shock contender for the vacant Tigers, Bulldogs, and Warriors positions.
Ian Watson, who recently took Huddersfield to the Challenge Cup final, has been put forward to the three clubs by a third party.
Stream the NRL premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
Watson, a former halfback-hooker with nearly 300 games to his credit, is regarded as a rising star in Super League coaching.
In 2019, he took battlers Salford to the Super League grand final and the following year he coached them to the Challenge Cup final before making the switch to Huddersfield.
Few British coaches have made the transition to Australia but the last one to do so – former star backrower Malcolm Reilly – won a premiership with Newcastle in 1997.
FEEL-GOOD STORM STAR COULD’VE BEEN A KNIGHT
The feel-good story of last weekend was Grant Anderson’s two-try debut for the Storm – but it will rub salt into the many wounds of Knights fans.
Anderson is the one that got away – a local Central Charleston junior who only wanted to play for his beloved Knights.
But the club didn’t think he was up to it and didn’t offer Anderson a contract.
Disappointed but determined, the 22-year-old made the move to Northern Pride in north Queensland before ending up in the Storm system with the Sunshine Coast Falcons… and the rest is history.
RESURGENT COWBOYS MAKING BOOKIES NERVOUS
There are some nervous bookies around the country watching the progress of the game’s most improved team in 2022, the Cowboys.
The Cowboys were listed a $34 chance to win the premiership before the season started but that blew out to $81 after a first-round loss to the Bulldogs.
After eight wins from their last nine games, the Cowboys have shortened right down to $12 to take the title.
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