The rugby league and union communities are rallying behind two talented footballing siblings whose careers are jeopardised by the threat of deportation.

Leighton and Epalahame Tali are being held in Villawood Detention Centre and face the prospect of being sent back to Tonga just as their careers are ready to take off.

Fears: Leighton Tali, along with his brother, is being held in Villawood Detention Centre.

Leighton, a 17-year-old centre, has been offered a three-year deal to remain with the Wests Tigers. Older brother Epalahame is a hard-running prop at Randwick who the club hopes to retain. But visa issues have resulted in them spending the past six weeks in detention and it is claimed that they have been verbally told they will soon be forced to leave Australia.

Their plight has touched some of the biggest names in football, who are organising petitions to have the decision reversed.