Spencer Leniu Faces a Second NRL Investigation, Over Alleged Abuse of an Official After Samoa’s Semi-Final
Spencer Leniu is under investigation by the NRL integrity unit again. He is alleged to have abused an NRL official outside the Samoan dressing sheds after last Sunday’s World Cup semi-final loss to Australia at Allianz Stadium, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. CODE Sports first reported the claim.
Leniu is said to have blown up after friends of his, who did not have the right accreditation, were stopped from entering an area kept for players’ family and friends.
Already banned for two games
It was not the only incident of the night. Referee Adam Gee sin-binned Leniu for dissent near half-time in the 44-12 semi-final, and as he walked off he appeared to rub his fingers together in a money gesture. It was read as questioning the referee’s integrity, and Leniu accepted a two-game ban.
That ban has to be served in NRL matches, which delays his debut for the Parramatta Eels, the club he has joined from the Roosters. He will miss round one against the Titans in Las Vegas, and a further sanction would push his debut back again.
Why the Eels say the ban is unfair
Parramatta chief executive Mike Rush is unhappy that the pre-season does not count. “From the club’s point of view, it’s a little frustrating to see that, because the World Cup is in Australia, we can’t use the trial games,” he said, as quoted by news.com.au. “Whereas, had the World Cup been in England, he’d be free to play in round one. It feels a little unfair on both the player and the club that the location of the World Cup dictates how you can serve your suspension.”
There is a precedent. At the 2021 World Cup, played in England in 2022, Roosters forward Angus Crichton was banned for one game for elbowing Chanel Harris-Tavita and served it in the pre-season, because International Rugby League rules applied, the Herald reported. With this tournament in Australia, NRL rules apply, and they do not allow it.
His post about World Cup pay
Leniu also made headlines this week for what he said about pay. The Australian players get a flat $40,000 for the tournament, while players from the other nations get $850 a game, according to the Herald.
“Let’s be honest, our little nations carried this WC. Yet we are paid 850 a game to the Aussies 30/40k for the tournament,” he wrote on Instagram. He pointed to Samoa’s group game against Tonga, which we covered in Tonga v Samoa, as an example of the island nations selling tickets.
Rugby League Players’ Association chief Clint Newton was among those who praised him for raising the gap.
What happens next
The integrity unit can hand down more sanctions if it finds the claim proven. The 26-year-old is a four-time premiership winner. It has been a busy off-season at Parramatta, which also included Josh Addo-Carr’s exit. The World Cup tracker has every result from the tournament.
