TELE TUBBY
Ricky a lot Laa-Laa lighter now
HUDDERSFIELD’S Ricky Leutele has lost the fat and got his mojo back.
The Samoa centre makes his 200th career appearance tonight when fifth-placed Giants host joint-leaders Wigan in Betfred Super League.
And the rivals will meet again in a little over a fortnight’s time in the Challenge Cup final.
Leutele’s stellar form has helped drive Ian Watson’s side on both fronts.
And he puts it down to getting himself in shape again.
Leutele joined Giants ahead of last season having briefly returned to Australia with Melbourne
Storm following Toronto Wolfpack’s dramatic collapse.
And the 32-year-old (below, pictured last year after piling on the pounds) said: “I was a bit overweight and unfit.
“I was probably five kilos heavier than I am now.
“I was injured most of last season as well but it’s come good now and I’ve got my body in good shape. “It was a decision between me and our conditioner GB (Greg Brown) more than anything Watto said and it paid dividends. It’s easier moving around the field a lot lighter. I’ve worked hard and got my fitness up. I feel like I am going well.”
Leutele scored 30 tries in 129 games for Cronulla, including their famous 2016 NRL Grand Final win, before switching to Toronto in 2019.
He helped them earn promotion to Super League but was left in limbo when they withdrew in July 2020, leaving players unpaid for months.
Leutele’s visa also expired so he had to return to Oz.
“Those times were hard but I feel like I’ve come out the other side better now,” he said. “It’s good. We’ve worked hard and I’m excited to play in that final now. “Wigan are going good. They have got two class full-backs with Jai Field and Bevan French. “It’s not for a couple of weeks but we’ve got them on Thursday as well so it’s a good little warm-up for the final.” Leutele helped destroy Hull KR 25-4 in Saturday’s semi, sparking joyous scenes for the club’s success-starved fans and long-time owner Ken Davy. “The boys were talking about how the last cup final Giants were in was 2009, so it’s been a while,” he added.