It was a different world when Thomas Leuluai first debuted for the New Zealand Warriors back in 2003. The club was coming off a grand final appearance and everything seemed rosy in Auckland.
Daniel Anderson was a happy coach and hooker Monty Betham was club captain. Richard Villasanti and Brent Webb were household names and nobody really knew future Kiwi superstars Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall.
Leuluai, the son of Kiwis legend James, came into grade as a prodigy ready to take over from the master Stacey Jones.
In fact, the Junior Kiwi was the youngest player to ever debut for the club at that time.
But things don’t always pan out the way you intend them to in the National Rugby League. After only a handful of games, Leuluai was out the back door and on his way to the London Broncos.
We would have forgotten him completely if New Zealand hadn’t kept bringing him back for international duty. Such is his class, he was one of only a handful of players to continually return for Test football from the other side of the world.
Is it any wonder that the diminutive ballplayer was part of the World Cup winning Kiwi squad?
“I love playing in the Super League and Wigan’s a great club to be a part of but, at some point, I was going to head home again,” Leuluai said in late 2011.
“I also had a real desire to go back to where it all started at the Warriors. I’m looking forward to a new challenge and achieving new goals.”
Leuluai was the first major signing under new coach Brian McClennan.
“He is an outstanding performer for Wigan and he has also established himself as a vital player for the Kiwis” McClennan said at the time.
Unfortunately McClennan won’t be there to see the dynamic playmaker. But it wont stop the Auckland native from impressing on his return.
With James Maloney’s departure, a spot in the halves alongside Shaun Johnson is available. There will be pressure from others but Leuluai will get first crack.
For anyone doubting his ability, just watch him go.
Sylvester
Guest
I don't rate Leuluai at all. He was very average for the Warriors last time round, but I gave him credit because of age and inexperience. From what I've seen since, not much has changed.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Im with you! Cutting edge has not been an NRL thing though so far
oikee
Guest
Anyhow, i brought up some good points that the code rugby league needs to think about. 3 points. A tour of duty for players who feel overwelmed by NRL pressures. 25 years of age, a magic number, they get 5-7 years in the fishbowl basket case of the NRL. If they need a break away from the NRL a few years overseas to lighten them up, freshen them up for another matured run at the NRL premiership. Dont laugh, if i run the game i would try to intrioduce something as forward thinking as this, and i would even go as far as sending some players to the American comp. This is cutting edge Curtis. ? What do you think. My brain is always working well under pressure. And dont laugh, someone brought up this the other day, they mentioned the AFL is setting up academies in America for ex basketballers, well rugby league should send fringe good qld cup nsw cup players to America, set up a academy and start the ball rolling, we can look at good ex nfl or basketball players as well.
oikee
Guest
Tommy and Fao'longo is also coming back under Bennett and the Hoff has made a spectacular return. ? Maybe it should become compulsary to go over to super league England for a tour of duty at around 25 years old. ? It will keep the standard of super league high, give the players a little break from the pressure of NRL (look at what happens at a mad monday, you cant even escape this nowadays) and bring them back fresh and ready for a assualt on the premiership. Tommy has been killing it at Wigan, he could end up the buy of the season, you heard that here first . ;)
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Had people talking did it not? Didnt like the path some of the comments were going down though
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Will definetely take some pressure off Johnson
rl
Guest
When I saw your headline I wondered "what ever happened to him?", he was the next big thing. Lets hope he comes back strongly. (BTW - much, much better than that unedifying pile you dropped yesterday, which attracted equally unappealing flies)
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
Leuluai might just be what the Warriors have been missing. He has got the hard edge in defence and is a good play maker if not maybe in the elite class. The two attributes that make him truly important to the Warriors next season is his calm, cool and assertive nature on the ball but also his never-say-die attitude, which the Warriors had a real dearth of in more than a few games last season.