Trent Robinson defended Spencer Leniu after the Roosters firebrand was blasted for a “stupid” brain explosion in Friday night’s game against the Rabbitohs.

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Leniu was penalised against the run of play in the 24th minute after throwing the ball away, having previously not followed Gee’s multiple attempts to get him to play the ball.

Instead, the former NSW Blues front rower only had eyes on Keaon Koloamatangi as he locked in a tense stare-off with his Rabbitohs rival.

The two exchanged words as Gee implored Leniu to play the ball six times, telling him the Roosters had been awarded a six-again after a ruck infringement from Koloamatangi.

While that should have incentivised Leniu to drop the run-in with Koloamatangi, he instead went as far as to throw the ball away even after both teams had been separated.

Premiership-winning Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk called it a “stupid” act from Leniu, while Panthers legend Greg Alexander declared the former Penrith prop had “completely lost his head”.

“It was great before Spencer threw the ball away when he had it,” Alexander added on Fox League’s coverage.

“These are moments where it’s fun and it’s great viewing but if you’re the coach and your player throws the ball away when you’re trying to work it out of trouble. What are you doing?”

‘STUPID’ Leniu slammed after square up | 00:30

It would have been particularly frustrating for coach Trent Robinson given the Roosters were severely undermanned for Friday’s game, having rested nine players for the match-up.

That left the Tricolours devoid of experience and leadership, with the hope that Leniu would step up to help fill that void.

“He’s obviously been given a leadership goal without so many guys in the side and completely lost it,” Michael Ennis added.

“It was personal for there and a good battle and then completely spilled over when he threw the ball away.”

However, instead of publicly criticising Leniu for his actions, Robinson admitted that while his star front rower “went over” the line he wants him to continue playing with the same fire.

“He went over it. I want him to play with his natural spirit and just stay under the line,” Robinson said.

“We spoke about that and I’ll encourage him to be himself and take on the opposition. He’s got enough experience that he just should have regulated that and played the ball.

“But after that, what did he do wrong? He creates an atmosphere when he’s in that mode. Other than that, I would have liked it to be beneficial for us.”

‘A moment no one will ever forget’ | 01:20

Leniu was substituted off shortly after the brain snap and didn’t play another minute in the game, although Robinson suggested that wasn’t a case of him sending a message and rather just part of the team’s broader resting strategy.

“I wanted to give as much time to those other guys,” Robinson said.

“I ended up rotating one forward out there, and I thought they did an amazing job. To see Hayden and Aston out there in their first game and they just played long minutes and kept going and going.”

Leniu’s future had been the subject of speculation earlier in the year after the representative forward played just 14 minutes in a game against Brisbane.

Reports at the time claimed Leniu could be set for an early exit from the club, although the Roosters front rower rubbished that talk in May.

“To all the Roosters fans, I’m here to stay. We’ve got a good thing going,” he said at the time.