15kgs down: Dragons star's insane 2026 transformation

Dragons’ coach Shane Flanagan has applauded Luciano Leilua, revealing the star forward has dropped 12-15 kilograms in a bid to reinvent himself in the modern game.

As the speed of the game has increased since the turn of the decade, forwards have been forced to adapt to higher speeds, with the ‘big man’ slowly finding it harder to keep up with the faster pace.

Off contract at the end of this season, Leilua has played 164 games in first grade since his debut in 2016, 84 of which have been at the Dragons and is fitter than ever heading into the new season.

The 29-year-old averaged 88 metres in 2025, 10 metres down on his average in 2024, and 23 metres down from 2023, but as he now prepares for his 11th season in first grade, Leilua has responded to Flanagan’s challenge with flying colours.

“Credit to himself… we knew he had to change something,” Flanagan told SEN 1170 Mornings.

“He's a big body. He was probably about 123-124kg last year at some stages, and he's such a skillful player, he's got silky hands and he understands the game real well (sic), but we just felt that he couldn't get around (in) the modern game.

“It's fast, it's hard and you need to be pretty mobile, and Luc (Leilua) has taken it upon himself to make sure he's lost some weight.

“He's down to about 108kg at the moment, so that's a big loss.

“He's moving really well. He looks fantastic, and we're looking for a big season out of him.

“I think he's like a new signing for us to be really honest.”

Leilua will look to take on an important role in the Dragons’ young forward pack full of future stars.

The likes of Hamish Stewart, Toby and Ryan Couchman, Jacob Halangahu, and Dylan Egan make up some of the new generation of players coming through the Dragons’ system, and with Keaon Koloamatangi coming in 2027 and co-captain Damien Cook close to re-signing, it’s a promising time to be a Dragons’ supporter.

The club have also brought in Penrith back David Fale and Warriors’ winger Setu Tu, with both players impressing Flanagan during the pre-season.

Fale made his first grade debut last season against the Bulldogs when the Panthers rested all but one of their strongest 17, while Tu is yet to make his NRL debut, scoring 13 tries in 14 games in reserve grade in 2025.

Both players are expected to have big impacts on the Dragons’ 2025 season and are both strong chances to start for the Dragons in Round 1.

“David Fale… he's a surprise packet for us,” Flanagan said.

“He played one game in the first group at Penrith last year when they rested most of their players against the Bulldogs, and he was up against (Stephen) Crichton and did a really good job and scored a try.

“He's had a really good offseason, (he’s) put on a lot of muscle mass and hasn't missed a beat at training.

“(He’s) trained every training session so I'm so excited to see him play and Setu Tu is the other young outside back.

“He’s come from the Warriors, played in the reserve grade grand final… he's just given us so much energy as well.

“(He’s a) different type of player… if I was trying to categorise him, I'd put him in the Sione Katoa type of winger.

“(He) bounces around, really gives the side heaps of energy.

“It gives us something that we probably haven't had over the last couple of years where, as Christian Tuipulotu’s more of a power athlete, where these two are definitely more typical winger-like, more center-like, and athletic and can jump.

“So, (I’m) really excited to see them play this weekend and in the trials and then hopefully in Vegas.”

The Dragons take on the Bulldogs to round out the NRL’s Las Vegas season opener.