Spencer Leniu

Spencer Leniu (born 8 September 2000) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Background
Of Samoan descent, Leniu was born in Auckland, New Zealand and grew up in Australia. He played for the Minchinbury Jets in the Penrith District Junior Rugby League.

2019
Leniu made his first grade debut for Penrith against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in round 21 of the 2019 NRL season which ended in a 26-20 victory for Penrith at Panthers Stadium.

2020
Leniu played 12 games for Penrith in the 2020 NRL season but did not feature in the clubs finals campaign or the 2020 NRL Grand Final loss to Melbourne.

2021
Leniu played a total of 19 games for Penrith in the 2021 NRL season including the club's 2021 NRL Grand Final victory over South Sydney.

2022
Leniu played 25 games for Penrith in the 2022 NRL season including the clubs 2022 NRL Grand Final victory over Parramatta.

In October Leniu was named in the Samoa squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

2023
On 18 February, Leniu played in Penrith's 13-12 upset loss to St Helens RFC in the 2023 World Club Challenge. On February, Leniu announced he will join Sydney Roosters from 2024 onwards. Leniu was selected as 19th man in the NSW Blues State of Origin squad for Game 3. Leniu played 21 games for Penrith in the 2023 NRL season including the clubs 26-24 victory over Brisbane in the 2023 NRL Grand Final as Penrith won their third straight premiership.

2024
In round 1 of the 2024 NRL season, Leniu was placed on report during the Sydney Roosters victory over Brisbane at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. It was alleged that Leniu had called Brisbane player Ezra Mam a "monkey". The incident was immediately reported to the NRL judiciary. Leniu pleaded guilty to a contrary conduct charge and was suspended for eight games at the sentencing hearing on 11 March. Leniu was asked about the racial vilification aimed at AFL legend Adam Goodes which ended his career, but the Sydney Roosters prop claimed he didn’t know who Goodes was.

On 21 May, the Sydney Roosters hit back at claims that Leniu had been taking illegal substances on a live stream along with fellow players Brandon Smith, Zach Dockar-Clay, Naufahu Whyte and Terrell May. The club released a statement which read “The Sydney Roosters have been made aware of a small clip from a longer live stream that some on social media have claimed identifies behaviour that breaches NRL rules. “The clip reveals no use of illicit substances or any other breach of NRL rules, however some see fit to make that grossly distorted and clearly damaging claim".

On 26 May, Leniu was one of the surprise selections by New South Wales ahead of the 2024 State of Origin series.