Spencer Leniu could be in hot water for referee abuse after he was sin-binned in a moment of capitulation for Samoa during their World Cup semi-final 44-12 loss to the Kangaroos.
Leniu was captured pointing towards someone after Bradman Best scored before half-time with touch judge Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski coming into shot immediately after it.
Spencer Leniu had a night to forget. Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Cameron Munster could be seen pointing at Leniu straight after his words with the Samoan firebrand sin-binned moments later.
Shaun Johnson said at half-time that Leniu would like his time back.
“He’s such an inspirational player, he can have such a positive impact on a side with the way he plays, but he got this one wrong,” Keary said on Seven.
“No player can approach the ref, only if you’re the skipper, but not in this manner whatsoever, you can’t condone that sort of behaviour. He’ll be disappointed with himself and putting his team under pressure.”
The Kangaroos went into the sheds leading 26-2 after tries to Tom Dearden, Jacob Preston, Tom Trbojevic, Reece Walsh and Best.
The minutes before Leniu’s brain snap were horrible for Samoa’s senior players with Jarome Luai placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Jack Bostock which sparked a confrontation between Walsh and Francis Manuleleua.
Samoa would have gone into the sheds frustrated they didn’t have a try after the Bunker controversially denied them points earlier in the half.
Manuleleua had leapt over Walsh to take a bomb and race away to score, and although a try was awarded on the field, the Bunker ruled the Samoan lock had knocked the ball on into Australia’s fullback.
The Bunker determined that the ball had touched Manuleleua’s right arm and then made contact with Walsh.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson thinks it should have been a try.
“The left hand of Walsh was behind his hand. It couldn’t have gone forward,” Robinson said with a laugh on Seven’s coverage.
“I really believe that should have been a try.”
After the break, a strong message from coach Ben Gardiner seemed to fire up Samoa with Stephen Crichton first to cross.
However, Walsh was next to score to keep chances of a comeback at bay.
Both sides went try for try when Izack Tago went over followed by Walsh again for a hat-trick.
Australia and Samoa players scuffle. Getty Images
Bostock then sealed victory in the 71st minute with a try in the corner before another Samoan player in Ronald Volkman was placed on report late in the match for high contact on Jacob Preston, who was on the ground.
“That’s been the story of night for Samoa … they had such an opportunity and ruined it with ill-discipline,” Robinson said.
The Kangaroos will now play New Zealand in the World Cup final at Suncorp Stadium next Sunday night.
In the match before the Kangaroos’ win, the Jillaroos advanced to the World Cup final after a 30-14 win over Fiji.
The Aussies had to work hard for their win after a shock start from Fiji meant they led 8-0 early in proceedings.
The Jillaroos clawed it back to 8-8 at half-time before running away with victory to set up a final against the Kiwi Ferns.