Latest news with #SpencerLeniu
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘It's not weak, it's smart': Maroons defend decision not to kick off to Spencer Leniu
Queensland Origin officials have defended the decision to avoid kicking off to Blues wrecking ball Spencer Leniu on Wednesday night, insisting it was 'smart business' rather than 'weak'. TV cameras captured Leniu mouthing profanities and throwing his arms in the air in frustration after Val Holmes spotted him come on to the field at the half-hour mark, then aimed his kick-off towards the opposite side away from the Roosters prop. It denied a fired-up Leniu – one of the game's most destructive front-rowers – the chance to run the ball hard back at the Queensland defence and deprived viewers of a contest that had been eagerly anticipated due to the simmering tensions between Leniu and Queensland fans. The 24-year-old was painted as NSW's biggest villain because of his sideline run-in with Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston at Suncorp Stadium six weeks earlier. Local newspaper The Courier Mail ran a photo of Leniu on their back page the day before the game with the headline, 'Smash This Blues Grub'. Former NSW firebrand Willie Mason claimed Queensland had been 'shit scared' after watching Leniu run over the top of NSW teammate Max King in the Roosters' match against Canterbury a week earlier. In that same game, Leniu took another kick-off carry and knocked out Daniel Suluka-Fifita. 'To him [Leniu], it's like, 'You don't even have the balls to kick it to me', Mason said on his Levels podcast. 'You called him out, a call to arms if you will, and then you kicked it the other way. Yuck.' However, Maroons assistant coach Josh Hannay said it made sense to avoid Leniu because he was so damaging when coming off the back fence. He said Queensland also tried to avoid kicking to where Payne Haas was standing. 'It's not weak to do that, it's smart – it's smart business to try and take away someone's strength,' Hannay said.
The Age
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘It's not weak, it's smart': Maroons defend decision not to kick off to Spencer Leniu
Queensland Origin officials have defended the decision to avoid kicking off to Blues wrecking ball Spencer Leniu on Wednesday night, insisting it was 'smart business' rather than 'weak'. TV cameras captured Leniu mouthing profanities and throwing his arms in the air in frustration after Val Holmes spotted him come on to the field at the half-hour mark, then aimed his kick-off towards the opposite side away from the Roosters prop. It denied a fired-up Leniu – one of the game's most destructive front-rowers – the chance to run the ball hard back at the Queensland defence and deprived viewers of a contest that had been eagerly anticipated due to the simmering tensions between Leniu and Queensland fans. The 24-year-old was painted as NSW's biggest villain because of his sideline run-in with Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston at Suncorp Stadium six weeks earlier. Local newspaper The Courier Mail ran a photo of Leniu on their back page the day before the game with the headline, 'Smash This Blues Grub'. Former NSW firebrand Willie Mason claimed Queensland had been 'shit scared' after watching Leniu run over the top of NSW teammate Max King in the Roosters' match against Canterbury a week earlier. In that same game, Leniu took another kick-off carry and knocked out Daniel Suluka-Fifita. 'To him [Leniu], it's like, 'You don't even have the balls to kick it to me', Mason said on his Levels podcast. 'You called him out, a call to arms if you will, and then you kicked it the other way. Yuck.' However, Maroons assistant coach Josh Hannay said it made sense to avoid Leniu because he was so damaging when coming off the back fence. He said Queensland also tried to avoid kicking to where Payne Haas was standing. 'It's not weak to do that, it's smart – it's smart business to try and take away someone's strength,' Hannay said.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Rumours of Latrell Mitchell's 4am Origin move after NSW win
Latrell Mitchell is showing some impressive commitment to his footy career. The 27-year-old, who has had issues on and off the field across his career to date, played his part in the NSW Blues' impressive Game 1 win over Queensland in Brisbane on Wednesday night. While the South Sydney star's dedication to the game has been questioned at times, his move after the series-opening win has raised eyebrows for all the right reasons. Blues coach Laurie Daley has said the post-match celebrations were fairly composed and ended by 1am on Thursday, with the squad focused on winning a second consecutive series against the Maroons. It has been reported Mitchell left the team hotel around 4am to return to Sydney and he was then spotted back at Rabbitohs training later that morning. Mitchell and Blues teammate Spencer Leniu have been under self-imposed media bans while in NSW camp, moves that have divided many in the rugby league world. It has been speculated part of Mitchell's early departure may have been designed to avoid the cameras and journalists that gather outside the team hotel the morning after an Origin game. The former Rooster has been active on social media, however, posting a clip on Instagram of himself slotting a goal in NSW practice on Monday (you can see that below). Mitchell turned around before the ball went through, replicating a move from NBA champion Steph Curry after he hits a three-pointer, and added the caption: 'Over to you Steph Curry.' The Blues centre also posted a photo from the NSW rooms after Game 1 alongside his children and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. A massive South Sydney fan, Albanese is beaming a huge smile in the photo and Mitchell poked a little fun at the PM in his caption. 'Some Random Souths bloke wanted a photo,' he wrote. The post has over 57,000 likes and 240 comments, including former NSW star Matty Johns, who said: 'Congratulations mate.' One fan wrote: 'You can see he's genuinely chuffed. Beautiful little family.' Another said: 'As a Maroons supporter mate, was awesome to see you play so well. Congrats!' A third stated: 'One of your best games ever. Well done and so glad you're back.' Mitchell had some important moments in the opening Origin showdown, including in Brian To'o's 28th minute try. After the Blues worked the ball to the left hand side of the field, Mitchell passed to To'o while mid-air as he was about to get tackled. 'He actually caught and passed that in mid-air, Latrell Mitchell,' Cam Smith said on Nine. Brad Fittler added: 'Latrell when he threw the ball he was off the ground. 'I don't know how he finds the strength to be able to flick it through his hands that quick.' Mitchell also had some strong moments in defence and while he is battling a knee concern, he has been named at fullback and captain for Souths' home match against the Warriors on Sunday. Barring injury, Mitchell will then be pulling on the sky blue jumper for Game 2 in Perth on June 18.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘QLD's weakness' – Leniu kick-off debate
NRL: The NRL 360 panel debated whether or not Queensland showed weakness in the State of Origin series opener by not kicking off to Spencer Leniu.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
NSW State of Origin star is caught on camera hitting Queensland with an X-rated two-word sledge
Spencer Leniu was a despised figure in Queensland on Wednesday night following his recent war of words with Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston - and the prop couldn't care less. The NSW Blues enforcer, 24, was also caught on camera issuing Queensland players a savage two-word sledge after he entered the fray in the 30th minute at Suncorp Stadium. Labelled a 'grub' by News Corp in the lead-up to the series opener following incidents with Thurston and previously Broncos star Ezra Mam in Las Vegas, Leniu was desperate to silence the locals. He didn't get his wish initially, with the Maroons instead kicking to debutant Max King. Leniu wasn't happy, and was seen mouthing 'f***ing pussies' before carting the ball up seconds later on the third tackle. 'They deliberately kicked the other way,' Fox League's Matty Johns said on his Backstage podcast. 'I reckon that's a victory for Spencer.' In April, a fiery confrontation between the Sydney Roosters forward Leniu and Channel 9 commentator Thurston was believed to have been sparked by comments the NRL legend made after Vegas last year. Leniu had the last laugh, with the NSW Blues winning 18-6 to take a 1-0 lead in the Origin series (pictured, at fulltime) In 2024, Broncos star Ezra Mam made a complaint that Leniu called him a 'monkey' on the field in Las Vegas - the Roosters enforcer was later banned for eight weeks by the NRL Witnesses said Leniu called Thurston a 'f***wit' as he passed the sideline commentary team. Thurston was reportedly stunned and sought to understand the reason behind the abuse. According to sources, Thurston confronted Leniu after full-time in the tunnel, asking him: 'What's your problem?' Leniu allegedly replied with another slur, calling the former Cowboys premiership-winning captain a 'f***ing c***'. It is believed the exchange stemmed from lingering tension over last year's racism scandal involving Broncos star Mam. Leniu was suspended by the NRL for eight weeks after referring to Mam as a 'monkey' during the NRL's season opener in Sin City. Speaking last year, Thurston said: 'The NRL had a great opportunity to make a stand, not only for the game but for society as well. 'I don't think the eight weeks is sufficient for what has been said and for the mental scars that have been brought up.'
