Burnsterming West Tigers backroar Luciano Leilua left the club immediately to join the NRL rivals.
Leilua will move to North Queensland, having already signed a three-year deal to join the Cowboys for the 2023 season.
“We wish Luciano all the best for his future,” said Tiger CEO Justin Pascoe.
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“She and her family have made a lot of friends here in the West Tigers and they will be missed.”
Leilua, 26, has played 99 NRL games since making his debut for the Dragons in 2016.
He joined the Tigers in 2020 and has been one of the club’s best players in recent seasons.
He also represented Samoa in 2019 and will be ready for them again at this year’s World Cup.
While he’s one of the Tigers ’stars, Leilua will fight for a place on a cowboy team that flies to third place on the NRL ladder, not seeing many people come in the middle of a resurgence.
In the 14th round, young backrower Helium Luke’s knee injury opened the door for a place in the squad, which could be filled by Leiluar in search of a premiership.
Luciano is the younger brother of former NRL firebrand Joey Leiluar.
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