The Wests Tigers will today attempt to talk strike back-rower Luciano Leilua out of a request for an immediate release to join North Queensland.
Leilua has agreed to terms with the Cowboys for 2023 - but wants out now after problems with Tigers management prior to the arrival of new supremo Tim Sheens.
The giant forward is determined to leave despite having another year on his contract and a player swap with the Cowboys may also be on the cards.
"The club has disrespected him," a source close to Leilua told Wide World of Sports.
"They didn't come back to us in negotiations and then signed a player in his position from a rival club last week. He was one of their most consistent players in 2021 and deserves to be treated better."
On his day, Leilua is a strike weapon and was one of the Tigers' better players last season.
The club is resigned to losing him in 2023 and has signed a ready-made replacement in much-improved Eels forward Isaah Papili'i.
But Sheens is keen to keep Leilua on board for 2022 if he can persuade him to shelve his plans to go north.
A Tigers source said the club was determined to dig its heels in over the matter.
"He isn't going anywhere next year - just as we kept telling people Luke Brooks isn't going anywhere," the source said.
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