Leilua Brothers Train Off for NRL Success

J

JC99

Well-known member
From 7 News:

Wests Tigers second-rower Luciano Leilua has returned to training 5kg lighter after an off-season competition with his brother.

With Joey in Canberra and Luciano in Sydney, the pair spoke on the phone every second day for encouragement as they trained and dieted their way into pre-season shape.

It resulted in a leaner and fitter Luciano fronting for training last week, who beat Joey by 3kg in the off-season weight-loss challenge.

"I came back about 110 (kilograms), normally I come back at about 115. I worked harder over the off-season," Luciano said.

"Just through eating and training.

"No more Macca's, no more pizzas.

"(Joey) went down to Canberra, we did a few sessions together.

"We had a chat on the phone every second day to see how we were going, we were competing as well so I won that by about three kilos, so I'm happy."

After missing the finals again in 2020, the Tigers have upped the intensity to chase a top-eight finish for the first time since 2011.

The recruitment of James Tamou, Joe Ofahengaue and James Roberts has added depth to the squad.

However, there's a leadership gap that needs to be filled from within after the club released Josh Reynolds and Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence retired.

In his fifth NRL pre-season, Luciano says it's no longer good enough just to be there - he needs to be a leader for the younger players.

"In our review at the end of the season (coach Michael Maguire) said to come back and set standards, we have a lot of young boys as well so they look at us," he said.

"For me, I want to be a leader as well.

"I want to do that and help put the club towards the finals."
 
Great article and quotes from 1 of the most underrated buys of the year he was fantastic this year can’t wait to see him next year
 
@finnzo said in [Leilua Brothers Train Off for NRL Success](/post/1278920) said:
Great article and quotes from 1 of the most underrated buys of the year he was fantastic this year can’t wait to see him next year
Click to expand...

He will need to be even better. After a player has a year like Lucy had, the analysts of others teams start putting even more emphasis on studying them. It's why "second year syndrome" is prevalent in a lot of sports.
 
@JC99 said in [Leilua Brothers Train Off for NRL Success](/post/1278909) said:
Joey looks like he’s lost more than 2-3 kilo too. Looks noticeably slimmer
Click to expand...

Might have made gains while losing the fat.
 
@Cultured_Bogan said in [Leilua Brothers Train Off for NRL Success](/post/1278924) said:
@JC99 said in [Leilua Brothers Train Off for NRL Success](/post/1278909) said:
Joey looks like he’s lost more than 2-3 kilo too. Looks noticeably slimmer

Might have made gains while losing the fat.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

True, he’s a naturally big dude but he certainly looks leaner. Hopefully that can translate to some on field success
 
Photographic evidence of Lucy's weight loss: Warning Graphic - Half his head has been removed! https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/leilua-brothers-train-off-for-nrl-success-c-1729203
 
Leilua bros ready to roll this season
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2021/03/11/leilua-brothers-ready-to-roll-this-season/
Michael Blok
Timestamp
Thu 11 Mar 2021, 02:19 PM

Damaging forward Luciano Leilua says the Leilua brothers are ready to bring the excitement on the left edge this season.

With right centre James Roberts joining the club over the off-season, Joey Leilua has been shifted to the left side of the field — teaming up with younger brother Luciano, who is excited to form the new combination.

“You know your blood is going to be there,” he said.

“We’ve been working on little combos and we’re trying to get that defence right first and we’ll focus on the attack after that.”

And when it’s time to attack — the Leilua brothers are going to play exciting footy — according to Luciano.

“It reminds me of playing backyard footy … I used to beat him all the time,” he laughed.

“The play style of today’s game is sort of like backyard footy — eyes up footy — that’s what we’ll be looking for.”

The backrower says his big brother Joey is physically and mentally healthy and primed for a big season.

“He’s worked really hard in the off-season and pre-season. He’s getting his head right and that’s all we can ask for,” Luciano said.

“He’s damaging in the ball running and his defence is getting to where it needs to be.

“He did have an average year last season with the COVID stuff, but that’s no excuse.”

Leilua says the Wests Tigers squad is excited for the season opener against Canberra Raiders on Sunday after an impressive pre-season.

“The culture is the main thing we’ve been focused on,” he said.

“We’re sick of not making the finals at this organisation. It’s time to knuckle down and take this organisation to the finals — for the fans mostly.

“We need everyone buying into what we’re building here. I’m really excited. It’s been a long pre-season, so we’re ready to go.

“It’s going to be a good year. Let the Wests Tigers fans know it’s going to be a good one.”
 
**‘Those words still motivate me’: Why Joey Leilua is determined to silence Stuart**
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/those-words-still-motivate-me-why-leilua-is-determined-to-silence-stuart-20210312-p57ac9.html

Joey Leilua has already proven Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire wrong, now he wants to do the same to Ricky Stuart in his first game in Canberra since leaving the club in 2019.

There is a good chance the Canberra faithful will boo the slimmed-down centre on Sunday when he goes head-to-head with Curtis Scott, the man who was brought in to replace him.

Leilua says he still loves the Canberra fans and players, but criticism from Stuart still hurts.

The 29-year-old told the Herald at the start of last year how Stuart had denied him the chance to play against Latrell Mitchell and the Sydney Roosters when returning from neck surgery in 2019, and later told him: “I don’t think you’re good enough for this team”.

Stuart then refused to take Leilua to a pre-season training camp on the Sunshine Coast because he was overweight, which, Leilua said “was the moment I knew I had to explore somewhere else”.

“Those words from Sticky Ricky about me not being good enough do motivate me,” Leilua said. “I’ve always had a lot of respect for Ricky, but when he said that it hurt me and I want to prove him wrong.
 
‘Those words still motivate me’: Why Leilua is determined to silence Stuart
By Christian Nicolussi
March 13, 2021 — 2.00pm

Joey Leilua has already proven Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire wrong, now he wants to do the same to Ricky Stuart in his first game in Canberra since leaving the club in 2019.

There is a good chance the Canberra faithful will boo the slimmed-down centre on Sunday when he goes head-to-head with Curtis Scott, the man who was brought in to replace him.

Leilua says he still loves the Canberra fans and players, but criticism from Stuart still hurts.

The 29-year-old told the Herald at the start of last year how Stuart had denied him the chance to play against Latrell Mitchell and the Sydney Roosters when returning from neck surgery in 2019, and later told him: “I don’t think you’re good enough for this team”.

Stuart then refused to take Leilua to a pre-season training camp on the Sunshine Coast because he was overweight, which, Leilua said “was the moment I knew I had to explore somewhere else”.

“Those words from Stick [Stuart] about me not being good enough do motivate me,” Leilua said. “I’ve always had a lot of respect for Ricky, but when he said that it hurt me and I want to prove him wrong.

“I wanted to come back against Latrell that day; I knew we were going to play against the Roosters at some stage in the finals, so I wanted to see how I went against him.

“When he shut me down and said I wasn’t good enough I was shattered. He still picked me the next week and we went on to the grand final, but I wish I played Latrell in that game.

“Then with the Sunshine Coast, I’d just come back from my wedding and was relaxed. Stick wasn’t happy about my weight. I ended up being the only one not going away.

“When he did that, I thought, it’s time to explore somewhere else.”

That somewhere else was the Tigers. Leilua arrived last year with big expectations, a big waistline and big pay packet, and, by his own admission, “didn’t do the club any favours”.

He struggled with the biosecurity restrictions that came with COVID-19, as did his wife, who returned home to Canberra with their children for family support. At one point Leilua was granted leave to head to the nation’s capital to see his loved ones who he had not seen for nearly three months.

It was a tough campaign for Leilua and came to a head when Maguire told him at the end of the season that he needed to improve or he wouldn’t be playing in 2021.

“‘Madge’ was blunt, there’s no bullshit with him,” Leilua said. “He said, ‘If you don’t come back in the right shape, you won’t play’.

“I looked at him and said, ‘That’s fine, I agree with you’.

“I was pretty heavy. I didn’t quite get to 120 kilograms, but I was close. Now I’m about 108 kilograms. I was the same weight at the start of 2019 before I did my neck. I was in great form at the start of the year and I thought I was in the Origin conversation.

“I’ve had a long pre-season – it felt like it went for a year – but I’m physically and mentally prepared.”

Leilua spent a month training with Raiders prop and his “second cousin” Sia Soliola.

Tigers fans know Leilua and fellow centre James Roberts can blow games apart with raw talent, but the pair are just as well known for going missing during matches. Leilua knows that, and so do his Tigers teammates.

“It’s all in the head for BJ,” skipper James Tamou said. “We know how devastating he can be when he’s on. There have been plenty of times I’ve played against him and he’s single-handedly torn us apart, whether it be with a powerful run or offload or big hit. It’s scary when you’re on the other team. I’m glad I’m on his team.”
 
@tiger_fanatic3 said in [Leilua Brothers Train Off for NRL Success](/post/1316331) said:
Surely the ultimate test for BJ is to go a full 80 minutes without doing something stupid..
Click to expand...

Mission impossible 8 Staring BJ.
 
@bathursttiger1 said in [Leilua Brothers Train Off for NRL Success](/post/1316332) said:
@tiger_fanatic3 said in [Leilua Brothers Train Off for NRL Success](/post/1316331) said:
Surely the ultimate test for BJ is to go a full 80 minutes without doing something stupid..

Mission impossible 8 Staring BJ.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

I guess we should focus on the stupid idiots who signed a player who has continually had issues and who's best and worst are poles apart ...as is Brooks ......Liddle
 
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