Ricky Leutele explains why he turned down NRL and Super League offers to join Toronto

Drew Darbyshire

Despite interest from the NRL and Super League, Ricky Leutele has admitted that Toronto’s offer was too good to turn down.

The Samoa international joined the Wolfpack on a three-year deal ahead of the 2019 season from NRL side Cronulla Sharks.

Leutele, who has won an NRL Premiership with the Sharks, has been a key man in all three of Toronto’s wins against York City Knights, Rochdale Hornets and Widnes Vikings so far this season.

Speaking after the Wolfpack’s 30-6 win over title rivals Widnes, Leutele said: “We needed to get off to a good start.

“We are still a bit rough in some areas which we need to work on but we’re getting there.

“I wanted to take the opportunity that the Wolfpack gave me.

“I wanted to set up my family for life after footy, but we have got a big year ahead of us and we need to work hard to get promotion into Super League, so it’s going to be a big year for us.”

Next up for Toronto is a trip to the Leigh Sports Village next Sunday as they face Leigh Centurions, 3pm kick-off.