Leilani Latu

Titans release Leilani Latu to Super League

Latu joined the Titans in 2018 from Penrith after 49 NRL games for the Panthers.

The 26-year-old Indigenous All-Stars and Tongan representative has struggled for regular NRL game time at the Titans, with nine appearances over the past two seasons on the Gold Coast.

Titans Head of Performance and Culture Mal Meninga said the Club was understanding of Latu’s desire to chase a fresh start.

Titans confirm Leilani Latu signing

Latu has been granted a release from the final three years of his contract with the Panthers to link up with Garth Brennan and the Titans. 

The Indigenous All Stars representative was a member of Brennan's successful 2014 Intrust Super Premiership NSW team when both men were at the Panthers. 

"Leilani is a player with a great attitude and is a great clubman," Brennan said. 

"He's had three strong years in the NRL and after discussing the prospect of him coming to the club, I know he's extremely excited about the opportunity. 

Rep wins set to spark Panthers' season

Emotion. 

That was the first word used to describe the experience for the Panthers prop-forward, who scored a double against Fiji including the match-winner with two minutes left on the clock.

Lined up behind another Tongan debutant in Manu Vatuvei, an emotional Latu admitted the occasion got the best of him before taking to the field.

"Everything felt like a blur, it all went so quick. Before we walked out I was standing behind Manu and could see that he was teary so I started as well and couldn't control it," Latu told NRL.com of the experience.