There have been a few rumblings in the media that Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu is looking to place elsewhere after just one season at the Bondi based club. Whether they are true of not is anyones guess at the moment. Normally where there is smoke, there is fire.
So, what would be the ideal clubs for Leniu to move to? Lets take a look!
Penrith Panthers
His former club where he made a name for himself and won three straight NRL Premierships. While it would be very hard for the Panthers to fit him under the salary cap, if he was willing to take a bit of a pay cut, his powerful style of play would be a really great addition to the best forward pack in the game.
Let’s face it, this move would feel kind of unfair. The Panthers are going for five straight titles this year, they have an embarrassment of riches in terms of big game players, and their junior base just keeps churning out so much good, young talent. Even as a Panthers fan I could see how this move would upset people.
Parramatta Eels
The Eels have started to try and do half of a rebuild around a few veteran players they have chosen to hold onto. Leniu would be a great addition to their pack and a player they could build their pack around. The Eels are also desperate to get some winners in their squad. You look through the Eels side over the last number of years and they have had way too many players in their team who have never won anything in their whole careers.
St George/Illawarra Dragons
I only add the Dragons here because they miss out on every single top target that comes up for grabs. It wouldn’t be great for his career overall, but I could see the Dragons throwing big money to get Leniu and try and turn around their reputation as a club that anyone with any career prospects reject when it comes to the open player market.
Canterbury Bulldogs
Sure it would be a huge stretch with the salary cap issues but Phil Gould treats this side like a fantasy football team, so he would just move someone on to another club, pay part of their salary, sign Leniu and worry about the absolute mess that will make of the teams cap later on.
The Bulldogs love a former Penrith Panther, and to be fair all of their best players use to be Panthers players, so this seems like a logical move.
Cronulla Sharks
The Sharks would need to get rid of someone to bring him on board, but can you imagine having him and Addin Fonua-Blake as the clubs starting prop forwards? That would be a make for a front row that would keep oppositions clubs awake at night!
If the Sharks moved on Wiliam Kennedy and maybe even Nicho Hynes and looked to go with some cheaper junior players, they might be able to squeeze Leniu into the side. It would be very disruptive to their team though.
Wests Tigers
A perfect club for Leniu to move to. He would fit in well with a number of his former Panthers players at the club, they would have salary cap space to move him into from 2026 onwards, and he would be a very good forward for the club to build around.
I actually think the Wests Tigers would be favourites to get his signature if he leaves the Sydney Roosters.
Other Options?
I think Leniu would be unlikely to move outside of Sydney, so that would rule out a whole host of teams. I don’t think Manly have a player for him, and moving up to Newcastle just seems like a bad idea. That club is a basket case.
The Sydney Roosters can’t really afford to lose Leniu. He is a very handy player who has shown he is improving as his career goes on.
