Spencer Leniu still has a lot of love for his former Panthers teammates, but the Roosters enforcer has declared “it’s going to be war” for 80 minutes when the sides kick off the finals series on Friday night.
The Minchinbury Jets junior spent five seasons with Penrith where he won three premierships, but he’ll have to head to the away sheds at BlueBet Stadium on Friday in what will be his first game against the Panthers having missed their round 4 clash while out suspended.
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“It’s a bit of mixed emotions, but I’m really excited. I’m going to go back west and perform against my old crowd, and it’s going to be good to play in front of my friends and family,” he said, unsure what sort of reception he’ll get from the crowd.
“I’ve been there for the last five years, so I’d like to think I know their systems pretty well, but there’s a difference between knowing it and stopping it.”
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Leniu knows he’ll be sledged by Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai on Friday night even though they’ve played together for Penrith, NSW and Samoa and admits he’s the only one who might be able to get under his skin.
“He’s a sledger in general, but coming up against me, I know him and Tito (winger Sunia Turuva) will say a few words to me,” he said.
“I think all his teammates know that even at training he’s sledging the boys, so I think it’ll be no different on Friday.
“He knows me inside out, so if there’s anyone that’ll sledge something that gets under my skin, it’ll probably be him.
“I’ve got a lot of love for Romey, so if it happens then it’ll stay on the field and then I’ll go and see his kids after.
“We’re always wishing each other good luck, but I don’t know if I’ll have to put the messages aside come this week.
“I love those boys, but when it comes to game time, it’s going to be war.”
While all eyes are on Nathan Cleary’s return from injury, the battle up front is just as intriguing given Leniu idolised Penrith props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.
“I got a chance to come up against them when I was playing for Samoa against the Kiwis, and I was really nervous,” he said.
“I owe a lot to Fish and Moses for how my career has panned out so far. I just hope they’re proud of what they moulded me into.
“I’ve got a lot of love for them off the field, but when it comes to game time, it’s going to be game on and I’m excited for the challenge.”
Leniu will have to step up one more time with veteran Jared Waerea-Hargreaves still out suspended, and Leota knows from experience just what is coming his way from a man who held nothing back when they trained together in Sydney’s golden west.
“I’m expecting back-fence carries from a fireball,” the Panthers star said.
“We need to combat that and hopefully do a good job on him because he’s a big powerful thing.
“One thing I remember about him was the wrestle. His sessions are crazy and he’d give absolutely everything he had in every rep.”
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