SAD NEWS: Ben Hunt has Announce his Resignation and Departure From St George Illawarra Dragons Today

St George Illawarra recruit Luciano Leilua returned to the club on the eve of the season after being granted an early release from the remaining two years on his North Queensland Cowboys contract.

However, the new Dragons backrower will have to wait to make his second debut in the Red V jersey after being issued with a breach notice following an investigation by the NRL Integrity Unit.

Early in February, Leilua appeared at Townsville Magistrates Court to answer a low-level drink driving charge which resulted in the 27-year-old receiving a fine and one-month driving suspension after he pleaded guilty.

However, his former club North Queensland were unaware of the situation until the morning of Leilua’s appearance in court.

Leilua was stopped by police on January 21 and later appeared in court on February 7, yet in the 17 days in between he failed to report the incident to his former club.

“Leilua had been stood down from all club activity since pleading guilty to a low-range drink driving charge earlier in February,” North Queensland noted last week while revealing his release.

The NRL Integrity Unit has since investigated the matter, with Leilua facing a two-match ban after he was hit with a breach notice.

If Leilua doesn’t try to dispute his two-match ban for failing to disclose a drink driving incident to his former club, he will miss his side’s opening clash against Gold Coast.

He will then serve the final game of his ban against the Dolphins before being eligible to return in Round 3 against the Cowboys.