Spencer Leniu’s fiery exchange with Queensland legend Johnathan Thurston has generated some long-overdue interest in the State of Origin series – and given Maroons fans a new NSW player to hate.
The next time the pair are likely to face off is the Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium on May 28, when Leniu is expected to start off the bench for the Blues and Thurston dons the headset on the Maroons’ bench as part of Billy Slater’s coaching staff.
“What Spencer did the other night was give us a really good entree for Origin, I’ll tell you that,” former NSW enforcer Mark Geyer said.
Sydney Roosters prop Leniu was booed by Broncos fans when he left the field at Suncorp Stadium midway through the second half on Friday night, only to call them “f—wits”. He then said as much to Thurston, who was on the sideline commentating for Nine, publishers of this masthead, before doubling down after the game.
Thurston had slammed the NRL’s decision to only hit Leniu with an eight-match ban for calling Brisbane’s Ezra Mam a “monkey” during a game in Las Vegas last year. Leniu had clearly not forgotten Thurston’s comments.
Leniu accused Thurston over the weekend of being “two-faced” and “fake” , while the Maroons great claimed he was “shocked” by the Roosters star’s outburst, “which was not of a racial nature, but overly aggressive in tone and unwarranted”.
Spencer Leniu and Johnathan Thurston on Friday night.Credit: NRL Photos
Geyer and Paul Gallen were two genuine Origin villains when playing in front of hostile Queensland crowds, but backed Leniu to handle the barbs, especially now he had clashed with Mam and local hero Thurston.
Geyer just hopes NSW coach Laurie Daley sticks with Leniu, rather than have second thoughts about picking a player who could lose his head in the heat of battle.
“I hope ‘Loz’ [Daley] doesn’t see him as a liability, because he’s definitely not,” Geyer said.
“He’s a bit of a powderkeg and built to play Origin. He’s a westie, like me, so go get ’em.
“He’s a lot smarter than people give him credit for. He had a bone to pick with the Broncos after he received that eight-week ban, but waited until he played them again in front of their own fans, called them ‘f—wits’, then zeroed in on ‘JT’ [Thurston] because of his stance.
“JT had his say, so as far as those two are concerned, they’re both grown men.
“But it’s given us a really good entrée for Origin.
“You can’t tell me that 95 per cent of people watching that game the other night didn’t start thinking about Origin, and what it will be like seeing Spencer in action come Origin time. They’ll raise the roof. It will be awesome.”
Roosters prop Spencer Leniu has given the State of Origin series some overdue publicity.Credit: Getty Images
Gallen backed Leniu to cope with the deafening noise of 50,000 boos every time he carted up the ball.
“I think he’s a wrecking ball, he’s got one of the fastest play-the-balls in the comp, and I don’t think he’ll be one bit concerned about Queenslanders booing him,” Gallen said.
“Origin is always a great spectacle, you always have heroes and villains, and Spencer is certainly the NSW villain at the moment. It’s not going to concern him, and NSW people will always support him at Origin time.
“It’s certainly fired up the Origin series.”
Daley must decide if he opts for three front-rowers or four. Leniu, Terrell May, Payne Haas and Mitch Barnett are all in excellent form.
While steering clear of the Thurston drama, Daley said of Leniu and his Origin credentials: “I love when Spencer plays with that passion and controlled aggression – I think he’s such a destructive front-rower, I like it when he’s in that mindset, and gets his team going forward.
“He has that energy coming off the bench, he did it really well in Origin last year, and he did it again for the Roosters on Friday night.
“When he’s in that mood, he’s a bloke who gives so much to a team and brings so much positive energy.
“You don’t want blokes giving away penalties, but Spencer does have that intimidation and fear factor, and that energy which inspires others.”
The Roosters feature on Nine on a Friday night during Magic Round when they tackle the Dolphins, which could see Leniu cross paths with Thurston, who works as a sideline expert at most free-to-air games in Brisbane.
Leniu is a Samoan international who featured in all three Origin games last year, a series won by the Blues when coming from behind to win the decider on Queensland soil.
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