Leota, the hulking 21-year-old who left the Brisbane Broncos last year for a rugby shot, produced arguably the moment of Super Round in his side's 27-17 loss on Sunday.
Pasifika need new owners to save the club from the Super Rugby Pacific scrap-heap next season.
If disbanded, Ipswich Grammar product and former Queensland junior rugby league representative Leota did his chances of finding a new home no harm on Sunday.
He flew high in the corner to sit on Xavier Tito-Harris's shoulders, reaching even higher for the mark before landing neatly to score a brilliant try.
"They've got to ... this is their livelihood," Pasifika coach Tana Umaga said of his players being on the lookout for a contract elsewhere next year, even if the club does survive.
"There's a lot of anxiety ... if they've got opportunities, that's what happens."
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph agreed that Super Round was naturally a showroom floor for Pasifika players with uncertain futures.
"You're always having a look, I'm sure all the coaches are," he said.
"You kind of feel sorry for them, but they're quality players and will get picked up somewhere."
Former Melbourne Rebels back Glen Vaihu followed up Leota's effort with a try to give Pasifika, who have won just one game all season, a 10-7 lead.
A Highlanders penalty levelled the scores after the break, and they went ahead when Angus Ta'avoa scored.
Adam Lennox ran on to a kick for their third try to offer some breathing space, but Augustine Pulu tumbled over to make it a seven-point game in the final 15 minutes.
Pasifika had their chances but eventually Timoci Tavatavanawai stole a loose ball at the ruck and a bloodied Cameron Miller slotted a penalty to seal the win and stay in touch with the top six.
"Just a real arm-wrestle; we created a lot of opportunities we couldn't finish off and kept the opposition in the game," Joseph said.
"But finding a way to win is really important."
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