‘It makes me a bit angry’: Leniu sets record straight on Roosters and NSW future

Spencer Leniu wants two things known. First, he hates when people question his commitment to the Roosters; and second, he believes he doesn’t deserve to be picked for NSW.

Leniu fronted TV cameras for the first time in more than 12 months on Friday, and was refreshingly honest when it came to his club future and Blues credentials.

News Corp reported last week Leniu was unhappy with the limited game time he was getting at the Roosters, and that there was an even a chance he would not be at the club beyond this season.

Leniu had not spoken to the media since his sideline confrontation with Queensland legend Johnathan Thurston at Suncorp Stadium last year. The only time he issued a comment to the press was last year in Perth when he told the Herald he was “proper sorry” for the racial slur directed at Ezra Mam a year earlier in Las Vegas.

But after the Roosters’ captain’s run at Brisbane’s Langlands Park on Friday, a nervous Leniu said he thought it was time to speak publicly after South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell ended his own lengthy media ban last week.

“I’d rather take any back-fence carry than speak to people in public,” he said.

As for reports he was looking to exit the Roosters, Leniu said: “We have a good thing going at the Roosters, there’s healthy competition [for spots], and to be honest, I haven’t been performing at my best, and that’s why I haven’t been getting the minutes I’ve been wanting.

“Robbo [coach Trent Robinson] and I have had some honest conversations. I feel like last week [against the Titans] was a step in the right direction. We have another big challenge against the Cowboys on Saturday.

“When people test my integrity and loyalty to this club, it makes me a bit angry. I hold myself to high standards in terms of integrity and loyalty. To all the Roosters fans, I’m here to stay. I can’t wait to keep on performing week in week out. Everyone in these four walls knows about my loyalty to my brothers and this club.”

Leniu’s good friend Jarome Luai has signed with the PNG Chiefs, and while Leniu joked he might need to lean on his good friend to “help with my mortgage”, there had been no thought to following him to Port Moresby.

The Samoan has featured in the last two Origin series, and became a focal point last year when the Maroons refused to kick off to him at Suncorp Stadium.

But Leniu was not expecting a phone call from Blues coach Laurie Daley on Sunday night, and said he did not deserve it.

“I don’t think I should be in any conversations about making that Blues team,” Leniu said. “If anything, I hope ‘Rads’ [teammate Victor Radley] gets a call. He epitomises everything Origin is about. Hopefully [Wests Tigers’ prop] Terrell [May] gets a call, too.

“I respect the game so much, I feel like we need to pick our side on form, and my performances haven’t been up to scratch. All I want to see is NSW succeed. If I’m not there, I’ll be cheering for the boys. If I’m there, I know what it takes to perform in those high-pressure moments. But I don’t think I’m in any contention.”

When told about Leniu’s Origin admission, Robinson told this masthead: “That’s not the truth, that’s a guy being humble. He won’t talk himself up. The belief he has, and the belief we have in him, he’s made for creating change with the way he carries the ball in that arena. He’s ready to play.”

The Roosters play North Queensland at 5.30pm, and Leniu expected to be greeted by a chorus of boos from the Queensland locals – not that he cared.

“The boos, the cheers, it all gives me confidence and riles me up – whatever reception I get, it’s part of the game, and it’s why I love the game,” he said.

Leniu broke down with a hamstring injury before the New Zealand Warriors clash in round one, and did not return until round six. The missed game time, Leniu said, was no excuse for his sluggish start.

Robinson endorses Walker for Maroons; the 10 Chooks in Origin debate

Christian Nicolussi

Trent Robinson says Sam Walker “has had enough practice” and is more than ready to wear the Queensland No.7 jersey as up to 10 Roosters are part of the State of Origin conversation.

Roosters five-eighth Daly Cherry-Evans is also in the Queensland mix, along with Lindsay Collins and Rob Toia, while James Tedesco is chasing a NSW recall, along with incumbents Angus Crichton, Reece Robson and Connor Watson. Spencer Leniu said he did not deserve selection, and instead vouched for suspended teammate Victor Radley.

Last weekend’s injury to Tom Dearden has created a vacancy for the Maroons’ No.7 jersey, and Walker – and to a lesser extent Cherry-Evans – are on coach Billy Slater’s radar.

Walker is viewed as the front-runner, and Robinson knows the 23-year-old would not disappoint his state.

“He’s ready to play, he’s continually put his hand up, and there’s no prouder Queenslander than Sammy – he talks about it and cheers louder than everybody every year,” Robinson said.

“He’s ready to go. It’s up to Bill to make that decision. Sammy has had enough practice now. He’s ready to rock ‘n’ roll.”

The one knock on Walker is his defence, but Robinson said apart from one hiccup early in the game against the Gold Coast last week, that area of his game had improved. “That won’t be the reason [he potentially misses out],” Robinson said.

The Roosters are chasing seven wins in a row, and had Walker packed his kicking boots last week, they could have easily amassed 30 or more points in each of those victories. They have the bye next week followed by a road trip to Melbourne.

The highest Origin representation in any one game for the Roosters was seven in 2003, then again in game one, 2020, when Tedesco, Daniel Tupou, Luke Keary, Boyd Cordner, Crichton, Collins and Jake Friend all featured.

According to statistician David Middleton, the highest club representation in an Origin game ever was 11, which the Broncos did on several occasions in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Meanwhile, Robinson commended Ivan Cleary for making the call to walk away from coaching at the end of next year, and Penrith for the way they quickly established a succession plan with Peter Wallace.

As for his own future, Robinson, 49, who has been at the helm at the Roosters since 2010, said: “I’m coaching Saturday. I’m a few years younger than ‘Iv’ [55], and a couple of years behind that. We keep rolling.”

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