3 minute read

North Queensland players have spoken about former teammate Luciano Leilua as they plot to bring about his downfall in the clash with St George Illawarra.

North Queensland players have detailed the physical and mental weapons they will use on former teammate Luciano Leilua to tire him out in the clash against St George Illawarra.

The explosive 27-year-old forward was given a release by the Cowboys to return to the Dragons on a three-year deal last month.

The undefeated Cowboys travel to Kogarah on Saturday to play a Dragons side smarting from a dismal 38-0 loss to the Dolphins last week in what was Leilua's first game for the club since 2019.

Leilua has been named to start in the second row against the Cowboys.

North Queensland winger Murray Taulagi will have his own way of dealing with Leilua.

"I will probably try and get into his head pretty early. I am really looking forward to playing against him," Taulagi said.

He said the Cowboys would try to wear Leilua out.

"Make him make tackles," Taulagi said when asked how to shut Leilua down.

"He is excellent with the ball in his hand. He's lethal. We are going to have to tire him out and keep him away from the ball."

Hooker Reece Robson, a tackling machine, will have his own target on Leilua.

"Big 'Luci' ... it is going to be fun playing against an old teammate. He is so hard to handle, as we have seen first-hand playing alongside him," Robson said.

"I guess we have to get numbers in and get him to the ground quickly so he can't keep pumping those strong legs of his."

Leilua was stood down by the Cowboys after pleading guilty to low-range drink-driving in February.

He was subsequently suspended by the NRL for one match after joining the Dragons for not disclosing to his club or the governing body that he had been charged.

Leilua played in the 38-0 loss to the Dolphins last week and made little impact.

"Luci is a really good guy," Cowboys prop Jordan McLean said.

"Unfortunately circumstances that he found himself in here (led to him) moving on.

"Off the field we are still good mates. On the field I am sure there will be a lot of talking between us."

The Cowboys have already scored 64 points in two games and look slick, with Robson, fullback Scott Drinkwater and halves Tom Dearden and Chad Townsend combining nicely.

Townsend landed the extra-time field goal last week to secure a 21-20 win over Newcastle after the Cowboys trailed 12-0.

"Our spine players were nice and calm in the second half and I thought we built the half really nicely," co-captain Dearden said.

"It was nice that Chad was able to ice it at the end

"As an attack we are always working on things, but the most comfortable thing to start the year is that we have had a lot of connection, and I think that is the reason we have been able to score a few points."