In short: NRL star Luciano Leilua has been suspended from driving and fined after blowing over the alcohol limit last month.
The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to the low-range drink driving charge before a Townsville magistrate today.
What’s next? Leilua’s club, the North Queensland Cowboys, and the NRL Integrity Unit are still discussing the matter.
NRL star Luciano Leilua has been suspended from driving and fined $300 after being caught drink driving in Townsville last month.
The North Queensland Cowboys forward was intercepted at Thuringowa Central on January 21 at 12:35am.
Queensland Police said the 27-year-old had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.052 at the time and charged him with low-range drink driving.
In Queensland, the blood alcohol limit is 0.050.
Leilua appeared in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning and pleaded guilty to the charge.
He was issued a month-long driving suspension and fined $300.
In a statement, the North Queensland Cowboys said internal discussions about the matter were ongoing.
“The Cowboys will continue to work with the NRL Integrity Unit on the matter and will make further comment once those discussions are complete,” the spokesperson said.
It is the second time within a year that the second rower has fronted court.
In May last year, Leilua appeared before a magistrate in New South Wales charged with two domestic violence offences from late 2022.
NSW Police dropped the charges against him, allowing him to return to the field after a three-month suspension from playing in the NRL.
In a rare occurrence, the Cowboys lost two men to the sin bin at different times of the first half in their clash against the Panthers, including one for a trip which could see a North Queensland rising star face scrutiny from the match review committee.
Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater was ordered to sit down for ten minutes in the 14th minute for a professional foul. Remarkably, the Cowboys would score one try to zero despite the disadvantage.
However, North Queensland would lose a second man to the sin bin in the 33rd minute when rookie centre Jaxon Purdue tripped Panthers fullback Daine Laurie just before the try line.
The incident was at the end of a stellar defensive effort from the Cowboys, who had to defend ten of 11 sets.
The trip wasn’t picked up by the on field officials at the time, but detected by the Bunker at the end of Penrith’s set.
“The trip well and truly did the job to bring Laurie down,” Corey Parker said on Fox League.
“I had to thought it had to be a penalty and most likely a sin bin,” Warren Smith added.
Referee Liam Pickering wasted no time in giving Purdue his marching orders when the Bunker notified him of the indiscretion.
“Had to be. Missed by the on field officials watching it live but picked up by the Bunker on replay,” Smith said.
“For the second time in this first half, the Cowboys are down to 12 men.”
The Panthers took full advantage in the ensuing set, scoring their first try of the game through halfback Brad Schneider.
There have been two players suspended for tripping this season
Ironically, one of those – Manly prop Josh Aloiai, copped the suspension for tripping Laurie during a Round 14 clash between the Sea Eagles and Panthers.