Trimmed down after signing a contract extension to keep him at the Dragons until the end of 2020, the door swung wide open for Leilua to burst through when Joel Thompson left for Manly. 

Named the club’s best NSW Premiership player last year, coach Paul McGregor has invested heavily in Leilua in the pre-season games against Hull and South Sydney. 

The 21-year-old missed out for a starting spot on the left edge by Tariq Sims, playing 20 minutes off the bench in the 34-12 victory against Brisbane.

But so determined are the Dragons to have Leilua firing, they made the decision at Friday’s recovery to thrust him into the reserve grade game, playing another 40 minutes against Mounties on Saturday.

Leilua said he’s ready to deliver on his enormous potential. 

“I’d like to think this is the year,” he said. 

“I’ve just got to do those one-percenters right and just work hard, take it week by week. 

“Hopefully I can have a big year, I’ve got to earn my minutes, Taz (Sims) is doing an outstanding job. It was sad to see Joel go, but it was good for us back-rowers to be able to get in and try and earn that spot.”

Leilua concedes it’s his attitude and technique which is under the spotlight by Dragons coaching staff as he tries to cement his place in the team.

He played five NRL games at the end of the 2016 campaign, but was overlooked last season.

The decision to play a second game in 48 hours last weekend was welcomed by Leilua. 

“It helped minutes wise and also for my defence,” he said. “I’ve got to get my defence right.

“I’ll do whatever I can to be in the team, I love footy, I’ve just got out there and just played.”

St George Illawarra dominated through the middle against the Broncos, but interchange prop Jeremy Latimore warned they faced a fierce challenge against his former club the Sharks on Thursday night.

Latimore has played at five NRL clubs since starting with Parramatta in 2009, including a stint with the Dragons in 2012 and last season at Cronulla.

''They have had a bit of success in the last couple of years and the Dragons have missed the finals so it is a new beginning for us,” Latimore said.

“It is about consistency and doing it every week. We've got aspirations to be a top team so we have got to go out there this week and do that.''