Roosters premiership enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves believes Spencer Leniu is ready to lead the side’s forward pack in Lindsay Collins’ absence tonight, following weeks of uncertainty around his future and limited game minutes.
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Leniu has been a hot topic at the Roosters this month, playing dwindling minutes in games amid speculation he would walk from his $800,000 per year Roosters contract at season’s end.
The 25-year-old Origin prop made just one run and three tackles in the Roosters’ 38-24 win over Brisbane last Saturday – prompting coach Trent Robinson to personally rubbish suggestions Leniu would walk from his contract this week.
However, with the Roosters missing Collins and an injury cloud hanging over Angus Crichton, Leniu has been parachuted back into Robinson’s starting side for tonight’s clash with the Gold Coast Titans.
According to Waerea-Hargreaves – the Roosters most-capped player and a three-time premiership winner – Leniu is ready to make his mark.
“I’ve played with Spence, he’s a quality player and the influence that a guy like Spence can have on the Roosters – we’ve seen it for a number of years now,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.
“We’ve all been there – I’ve played off the bench and I’ve started – it’s just finding your niche at the moment.
“There’s a lot of external talk but it’s just a case of keeping it simple. He’ll get minutes when it’s time. He just has to stick to whatever works for him.
“He’s a hell of a player and he’ll be getting his when it’s needed for sure.”
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On Thursday, Roosters coach Trent Robinson personally responded to reports that Leniu was headed for the door mid-contract, categorically telling press the star forward wasn’t going anywhere following “disappointing” speculation.
“If anything it’s probably just simplifying it and acknowledging that you’ve got quality players in Naufahu [Whyte] and Lindsay [Collins] that play long minutes,” Waerea-Hargreaves said of Leniu’s limited minutes.
Robinson said Leniu hadn’t spoken to any parties outside of the Roosters. He confirmed conversations between the two in recent weeks about more game time for the Origin prop as he ponders a potential recall in Laurie Daley’s game one side.
“He’s definitely wants more minutes and we’ve had those conversations,” Robinson said.
“He gets his opportunity to go out there and play there this weekend. We really value the way that he plays and that opportunity is right there in front of him.
“It’s disappointing, a bit of the commentary around it, but we can’t handle that. That’s the interest when somebody doesn’t play as much time as what they want.”
Asked whether Leniu will see out his contract at the Roosters, Robinson said: “Of course he will.
“You’ve got to be careful that people don’t buy into those sort of conversations too much. Just because one person says it doesn’t mean it’s true.
“We know where we’re at. Between Spenny and I, and the club and his management, we’ll keep rolling on as we do.”
Robinson has made a number of injury-related changes for tonight’s Titans clash.
Sentimental favourite Cody Ramsey has been named to start on the wing in place of Mark Nawaqanitawase (ankle), Leniu has been named for Collins, and Taylor Losalu and Benaiah Ioelu join the Roosters bench.