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Spencer Leniu

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Spencer Leniu
Personal information
Born (2000-09-08) 8 September 2000 (age 24)
Auckland, New Zealand
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight110 kg (17 st 5 lb)
Playing information
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019–23 Penrith Panthers 83 8 0 0 32
2024– Sydney Roosters 17 1 0 0 4
Total 100 9 0 0 36
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022 Samoa 7 0 0 0 0
2024 New South Wales 3 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 27 September 2024

Spencer Leniu (born 8 September 2000) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Background

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Of Samoan descent, Leniu was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and grew up in Sydney.[2] He played for the Minchinbury Jets in the Penrith District Junior Rugby League.[3]

Career

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2019

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Leniu made his first grade debut for Penrith against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in round 21 of the 2019 NRL season which ended in a 26–20 victory for Penrith at Panthers Stadium.[4][5]

2020

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Leniu played 12 games for Penrith in the 2020 NRL season but did not feature in the clubs finals campaign or the 2020 NRL Grand Final loss to Melbourne.

2021

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Leniu played a total of 19 games for Penrith in the 2021 NRL season including the club's 2021 NRL Grand Final victory over South Sydney.[6]

2022

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Leniu played 25 games for Penrith in the 2022 NRL season including the clubs 2022 NRL Grand Final victory over Parramatta.[7]

In October Leniu was named in the Samoa squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[8]

2023

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On 18 February, Leniu played in Penrith's 13–12 upset loss to St Helens RFC in the 2023 World Club Challenge. On February, Leniu announced he will join Sydney Roosters from 2024 onwards.[9] Leniu was selected as 19th man in the NSW Blues State of Origin squad for Game 3.[10] Leniu played 21 games for Penrith in the 2023 NRL season including the clubs 26–24 victory over Brisbane in the 2023 NRL Grand Final as Penrith won their third straight premiership.[11]

2024

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In round 1 of the 2024 NRL season, Leniu was placed on report during the Sydney Roosters victory over Brisbane at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. It was alleged that Leniu had called Brisbane player Ezra Mam a "monkey". The incident was immediately reported to the NRL judiciary.[12][13] Leniu pleaded guilty to a contrary conduct charge and was suspended for eight games at the sentencing hearing on 11 March.[14] Leniu was asked about the racial vilification aimed at AFL legend Adam Goodes which ended his career, but the Sydney Roosters prop claimed he didn't know who Goodes was.[15]

On 21 May, the Sydney Roosters hit back at claims that Leniu had been taking illegal substances on a live stream along with fellow players Brandon Smith, Zach Dockar-Clay, Naufahu Whyte and Terrell May. The club released a statement which read "The Sydney Roosters have been made aware of a small clip from a longer live stream that some on social media have claimed identifies behaviour that breaches NRL rules. “The clip reveals no use of illicit substances or any other breach of NRL rules, however some see fit to make that grossly distorted and clearly damaging claim".[16]

On 26 May, Leniu was one of the surprise selections by New South Wales ahead of the 2024 State of Origin series.[17] He played in all 3 games of the series off the bench. Leniu played 17 matches for the Sydney Roosters in the 2024 NRL season. He played in all three finals matches for the club as they were defeated in the preliminary final by Melbourne.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Rugby League Project". Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  2. ^ "NZ-born Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu pleads guilty to racial slur against Brisbane Broncos rival Ezra Mam". Newshub. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Leniu signs new Panthers deal". Penrith Panthers. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  4. ^ "NRL Round 21 team announcements". NRL.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Penrith rookies hold out Cronulla in NRL". 7 News. 9 August 2019. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  6. ^ "One of finest NRL grand finals of all time provides cure to difficult season". www.theguardian.com. 3 October 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  7. ^ "'Parra are our sons': Panther's cheeky Eels sledge as stars run riot, Luai has another dig". www.foxsports.com.au. 3 October 2022. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021". 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  9. ^ "St Helens: World Club Challenge win 'seismic for British rugby league'". BBC Sport. 19 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  10. ^ "State of Origin game three teams: New South Wales drops Jarome Luai ahead of dead rubber clash with Queensland". ABC News. 3 July 2023. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  11. ^ Howcroft, Jonathan (October 2023). "NRL grand final 2023: Penrith Panthers defeat Brisbane Broncos – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Ezra Mam: Australian rugby league star accuses rival of using racist slur". BBC News. 4 March 2024. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Roosters & Sea Eagles victorious – as it happened". www.theguardian.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  14. ^ Bryce, Bindi; Healy, Jon (11 March 2024). "Roosters' Spencer Leniu suspended for eight NRL games over racial slur against Ezra Mam". ABC News. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Spencer Leniu's staggering claim about Adam Goodes as NRL judiciary hands down big ban". au.sports.yahoo.com. 11 March 2024.
  16. ^ "'Not right': Tedesco defends teammates as Roosters blast 'grossly distorted' claims over viral video". www.foxsports.com.au. 22 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Blues name six rookies, new captain for Origin opener". www.nrl.com. 26 May 2024.
  18. ^ "The Mole's end of season review: Maligned signing suddenly looms as Roosters saviour after exodus, injuries". www.nine.com.au. 30 September 2024.
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