Joey Leilua leaves Canberra to pen three-year deal with Wests Tigers

Wests Tigers have landed two-time NRL Centre of The Year Joey Leilua.

The 28-year-old, who has agreed a three-year contract, will join ranks with brother, Luciano, who signed for the club from St George Illawarra earlier in the pre-season.

Leilua, who will be ending a five-year stint with the Canberra Raiders, has also played for the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights.

The Samoan has 204 NRL games to his name, notching up 89 tries in the process, and will inject a lot of power into Michael Maguire’s side.

Leilua’s future in the nation’s capital was uncertain after the Raiders signed centre Curtis Scott following his release from Melbourne.

The Tigers are also still negotiating with South Sydney over Adam Doueihi, with the young star reportedly seeking a four-year deal to join after seemingly losing his position to Latrell Mitchell.

Wests had also hoped to sign Eels prop forward Stefano Utoikamanu a year early having signed him for the 2021 season, but these hopes were crushed after Parramatta announced that the New South Wales Under-20 Representative has been called up to their 30-man squad.

As for the Raiders, their team will have a different look this year with Jordan Rapana joining Japanese Rugby side Panasonic Wild Knights and halfback Aiden Sezer signing for the Huddersfield Giants.

They will however see English playmaker George Williams come into the side, with the former Wigan man likely to join Clive Churchill medallist Jack Wighton in the halves for the 2020 season.