St George Illawarra Dragons forward Luciano Leilua has confirmed he will move to the Catalans Dragons from the start of 2027 on a three-year deal.
The second-rower requested a release from the Dragons earlier this year before the June 30 deadline, but the club knocked him back, keeping him as part of the playing squad until the end of the season.
While he was at one point linked with a move to the Brisbane Broncos, and the Perth Bears were also said to be interested in his services, Leilua has confirmed he will make the move to the south of France with the Super League glamour club from the start of next year.
At 30 years of age, it appears his chances of playing another season in the NRL before retirement are over, with Leilua saying he was looking forward to the challenge of moving across the world.
“I am very excited to join this great club and its history,” he said upon his signing.
“I can't wait to meet my new teammates and everyone who makes the club what it is.
“My family and I are eager to arrive in the south of France and enjoy everything the club has to offer.”
He will link up with coach John Cartwright at Catalans, who are struggling their way through the 2026 campaign, sitting in eighth spot on the table.
Cartwright, though, said he was looking forward to having Leilua as part of his squad.
“Luciano is a powerful and experienced second-row forward who still has his best years ahead of him,” Cartwright said.
“For a player of his size, he has very good footwork and the ability to keep the ball alive after contact.”
The forward has had a mixed season at the Dragons, falling down the pecking order amid breakout form from a host of young players.
While he started through to Round 8, he has only made six appearances, with all of them coming from the interchange bench.
Leilua debuted for the Dragons back in 2016, playing for the club through to the end of 2019 before joining the Wests Tigers in 2020, and the North Queensland Cowboys in 2022, then rejoining the Dragons in 2024.
All up, he has played 178 NRL games and could add a few more before he departs for the Super League.
