Leniu backed to tackle Queensland after JWH tussle

Revered for antagonising famend onerous man Jared Waera-Hargreaves, Penrith firebrand Spencer Leniu is being backed to win a maiden State of Origin call-up and switch his consideration to needling Queensland’s pack.

Leniu and Waerea-Hargreaves have been concerned in a heated altercation within the Panthers’ 30-6 win over the Sydney Roosters on Saturday evening.

Penrith have been incensed by Waerea-Hargreaves’ use of an elbow in a deal with that brought on prop Moses Leota to go away the sector within the ultimate 10 minutes.

Tensions continued to simmer as Waerea-Hargreaves and the younger Panthers ahead squared off, with the previous triggering an additional skirmish when he threw a water bottle at Leniu.

The pair escaped with fines on Sunday and will not face suspension, clearing the best way for Leniu to doubtlessly earn a Blues call-up for Origin II in Brisbane on June 21.

Teammate Jarome Luai – himself uncertain if he’ll be retained for Origin II regardless of establishing two of NSW’s tries within the series-opening loss to Queensland – is main requires Leniu to be unleashed on the Maroons.

“We love that stuff,” Luai stated of Leniu’s showdown with Waerea-Hargreaves, which ended with Leniu difficult the Roosters enforcer to finish the feud within the “automotive park”.

“I do know Spenny is a brilliant footballer. He is a front-rower however he is acquired some brains in that head.

“I hope he is within the (Blues) dialog as a result of everybody is aware of what he brings.

“He is acquired that fireball power and when he is on the market he can change the momentum of the sport.

“Fingers crossed, as a result of he is been doing that constantly this yr and if he is handed that chance he will relish that enviornment. He is constructed for it.

“Be careful, man, he is a fireball. We name him ‘Fireball’ at Penrith.”

Leniu had been in calculations for a NSW call-up for recreation two earlier than struggling a ruptured testicle in a coaching mishap.

He pays $3600 in fines to keep away from suspension, whereas Waerea-Hargreaves has been slugged with a $6000 penalty resulting from his prolonged rap sheet.

Leniu is about to affix the Roosters subsequent yr and Luai stated he hoped the head-to-head battle would not make issues “awkward”.

“He (Waerea-Hargreaves) had a good bit to say,” Luai stated.

“Particularly after the elbows as properly, which kind of ticked us all off, and I believe that was only a build-up of a little bit of frustration.

“It is warmth of the battle stuff and, you understand, what occurs on the sector stays on the sector.

“However there’s acquired to be a line within the sand, and we might all had sufficient of him.”

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