Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu is reportedly set to be unleashed on Queensland in the State of Origin opener on May 28, which will result in a fiery battle with the Maroons’ faithful.
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The Daily Telegraph reported Leniu is tipped to be picked on the bench in Laurie Daley’s team for game one, setting up a fiery battle with Queensland and their rabid home crowd at Suncorp Stadium.
Leniu, who is known for “wanting to hurt people” has had a tumultuous 14 months after public battles with Queenslanders Pat Carrigan, Johnathan Thurston and Ezra Mam.
The fiery prop could be set to be Queensland’s public enemy number one in the Suncorp Origin cauldron.
Blues legend Mark Carroll is excited to watch Leniu take on the Queenslanders with his old school approach.
“Leniu runs from the back fence and wants to hurt people – I love the way he plays,” Carroll told The Daily Telegraph.
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“We are playing the most physical game in the world so if Leniu can play for NSW, I would want him there. Rugby league and State of Origin loves theatre – we need theatre.”
Carroll encouraged the Queensland faithful to do their best to put Leniu off his game, but doesn’t think it will phase him or change his approach.
“Go for it, give it to him. Boos and louder than cheers. It won’t worry him,” Carroll said.
Maroons legend Billy Moore believes the Queensland crowd giving it to Leniu is par for the course.
“Queenslanders will give him (Leniu) a rev-up because that’s what Queenslanders love to do,” Moore said.
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Leniu was suspended last year for eight games after calling Brisbane’s Ezra Mam a “monkey” before then engaging in heated words with Carrigan in their Las Vegas hotel corridor post-game.
And last month, Leniu clashed heatedly during and after a NRL game with Queensland legend Thurston, who was completing sideline commentary for Channel 9.
Leniu reportedly took exception to Thurston calling for a bigger ban for the Mam incident and accused him of being fake.
Queensland always look out for their own, so Leniu is set to be a target for the crowd every time he gets the ball in the series opener.
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