The Leeton Greenies have made the one of the biggest signings of the off-season after announcing that star outside back Beniel Dakunibubului will return to the club in 2026.

Known around the region as just ‘Beniel’, Dakunibubului is best remembered for his try-saving tackle on a runaway Jonathan Sila in the 2023 Group 20 Grand Final, which secured a narrow 28-24 win for Leeton over rivals DPC and capped a Barry Hails Medal-winning performance.

Speaking shortly before the announcement of the signing, Leeton captain-coach Billy Dickinson said that the return of the young star is a huge coup for the Greenies as they continue building for the upcoming campaign.

“It’s massive for the club, Beniel is obviously a great player and we were sad to see him go up to Sydney, but it was good for him to chase his dreams,” he said.

“[Now] he’s fallen back in our lap and come home for a little bit, so it’s a great pickup for the club.

“He’s someone that the boys love around the club, and he’s a great player as well.”

After taking out the 2023 premiership with the Greenies, the talented centre moved up to Sydney to try his luck in the NRL lower grades, where he spent the 2025 season with Manly’s Sydney Shield team.

With that experience under his belt, Dickinson said that Dakunibubului will be a force to be reckoned with when he takes to the field back in Group 20.

“It’s going to be interesting, when he was here last he was a youngster, I think he was 17 or 18, and just had raw talent, speed and size,” he said.

“It’s going to be interesting to see what a couple of years up in the Sydney program has done for him, I met up with him the other day and if anything he’s got bigger, which is scary, [and] he’s still quite a mobile bloke.

“He’s going to be a big part of this year, he gets along well with all the boys, and we’ve taken him back with open arms.”

As for that now famous moment in 2023, Dickinson said it remains one of the best moments in recent memory for the club and its players and supporters.

“That tackle in the 2023 Grand Final, it’s definitely one of the most memorable moments I’ve had at the Greenies, I still can’t believe he made it to be honest,” he said.

The return of Dakunibubului strengthens a Leeton squad already brimming with talent.

The Greenies will have strong depth in 2026, with James Tafiti, Elwyn Ravu, Rhys Wilesmith, Josh Fisher, Brandon Catlin, Matt Chant, Vula Wate, Tom Dowse, Beau Griffiths, Jacob Buchanan and Caydan Hiller all committed for the upcoming campaign.

The Group 20 draft draw, which is yet to be confirmed, sees Leeton scheduled to face Narrandera first up in a reserves-only clash, before taking on the TLU Sharks in round 2 at Lake Cargelligo.