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.
Luciano Leilua suspension: How many matches will St George Illawarra recruit miss?
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.
MORE: How does Luciano Leilua's Dragons contract compare to other forwards?
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 hit with a breach notice.
The backrower will now miss his side's opening game against the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday night.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the Dragons have successfully had his initial two-match suspension halved, while he will also have half of his $20,000 fine suspended.
What games will Luciano Leilua miss for the Dragons?
Leilua will miss one game for failing to disclose a drink driving incident to his former club.
He will be eligible to return in against the Dolphins next week before facing the Cowboys in Round 3.
Luciano Leilua joins the Dragons after being granted Cowboys release
Leilua returned to the club where he made his NRL debut back in 2016 on a three-year deal.
"We're delighted to bring Luciano back to the Dragons, where he started his career," Shane Flanagan said in the announcement.
"As a powerful and skillful edge forward, he will make our roster stronger as we head into the season."
Luciano made 43 appearances for the Red V before departing to join the Wests Tigers on a lucrative deal.
The Samoan international played across three seasons for the Tigers until he left halfway through the 2022 campaign to take up an offer from the Cowboys.
Despite regularly being one of the Townsville outfit’s best, Leilua requested a move just three weeks out from the beginning of the new season and has taken up a deal with the Dragons.
