Use this version pls BC
THE Canberra Raiders have emerged as a left field contender to the land the signature of North Queensland Cowboy Luciano Leilua.
Earlier in the week it was St George Illawarra who appeared in the box seat to sign Leilua effective immediately on a three-year deal.
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But the Green Machine have quietly gone about orchestrating what would rank as one of the best signing coups of the off season.
The Dragons had a Zoom call meeting with Leilua on Thursday and were believed to be close to sealing a deal.
However Canberra have discreetly made an approach after being interested in Leilua for the past six months.
The Raiders are believed to be close to striking a deal in what would be a cruel twist for St George Illawarra.
The Dragons were initially bullish about signing the forward who has been given permission to negotiate by North Queensland however Red V management baulked at Leilua’s $900,000-a-year contract.
The Cowboys forward is on the big money deal after gaining a 15 per cent pay rise when the NRL’s collective bargaining agreement was finalised last year.
This is where the Raiders have entered the equation with the anticipated medical retirement of Kiwi Test forward Corey Harawira-Naera.
The Raiders have already recruited strongly in the back row with the addition of Panthers forward Zac Hosking over the summer.
But adding Leilua would give them even more strike in a forward pack already containing Joe Tapine, Josh Papali’i, Hudson Young, Elliott Whitehead and Corey Horsburgh.
More to come
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