The NRL is investigating St George-Illawarra’s new signing Luciano Leilua’s failure to disclose a recent drink-driving offence.
His former club the Cowboys and the NRL were kept in the dark for weeks, only made aware of his indiscretion via a phone call tip-off from a local newspaper editor.
Townsville Bulletin editor Cas Garvey phoned Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel when Leilua turned up to court on February 7 in a T-shirt, shorts and joggers — and without a solicitor to represent him.
It was almost three weeks after he had been charged. Reibel was straight on the phone to the NRL to alert the integrity unit.
The NRL has strict guidelines around players and clubs reporting any police charges or off-field misbehaviour. It has to be done straight away.
On January 21, the
Dragons’ new signing was stopped by police at 12.35am in Townsville. He recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.052 – just above the legal limit.
Cowboys star Luciano Leilua arrives in court in shorts and shirt. Picture: Blair Jackson
He pleaded guilty in court and was issued a $300 fine and a one-month driving suspension.
Leilua was interviewed by the integrity unit last week, and now faces a possible fine.
It turns out he had not even informed his manager Mario Tartak of the charges.
The drink-driving charge, his failure to alert the club and, according to club sources, a poor attitude at training, is why Reibel and coach Todd Payten gave him the OK to negotiate elsewhere.
You certainly don’t let such explosive edge forwards loose unless there is a good reason.
There were reservations by some officials at St George-Illawarra before he was signed to a three-year $1.8 million contract last week.
Coach Shane Flanagan has no doubts he will add enormous strike power to his struggling club.
It’s a matter of getting him right off the field.
An NRL spokesman said: “The NRL Integrity Unit is aware of the matter and is liaising with relevant parties.”