// Panthers forward Spencer Leniu has weighed in on his fiery on-field feud with Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. During the Panthers' round 15 loss to the Tricolours, the 22-year-old found himself in a flashpoint moment with Waerea-Hargreaves, requiring players from both sides to separate the pair. However, Leniu showed no signs of backing down, instead challenging the Kiwi veteran to finish what they started in the car park after the match. READ MORE: DCE retirement theory explains Manly buys READ MORE: Players on edge after 'confronting' pitch protest READ MORE: Alcaraz earns top seed in 20-year Wimbledon first "You know, when you're in that red (mist) head, you just say whatever," Leniu said. "Whatever happens on the field stays on the field. But if he wants to escalate it, I'm keen too. He's been there for 10-plus years, if he wants to hold a grudge, that's on him. "I couldn't care less. I'll just do whatever I can for the team and cross that bridge when it comes." Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now At the time of the incident, Penrith playmaker Jarome Luai said Waerea-Hargreaves had overstepped on the field and that the Panthers players had had enough of his antics. Luai also claimed Waerea-Hargreaves had been sledging Leniu in the lead-up to the incident after teammate Moses Leota was removed from the field for a HIA after copping an elbow from Waerea-Hargreaves. "[He] ticked us all off … there's got to be a drawing of a line in the sand. We'd had enough of him," said Luai. Both players were sent to the bin following Leniu's heated spray, while the Panthers youngster also received a fine from the NRL match review committee for his actions. Leniu said his intention on impulse was solely to protect his teammate from being bullied. "In the heat of the moment I was sort of protecting Jarome," he said. "Whatever happens on the field stays on the field. I think it was a good spectacle for the fans, seeing all that stuff instead of seeing the usual week-to-week footy, a bit of beef in the game. The heated dispute between the prop-forwards will need to be resolved before the duo become teammates in 2024, with Leniu signing a three-year deal with the Roosters. "It's a funny one thinking about it, with me going there next year, but it is what it is," Leniu said. "I'm gonna do whatever I can to be the best I can be this year to help me get another [premiership] ring and I'll just worry about that stuff when it comes. "Jared's not on my mind every week. I've got the best two front-rowers in my opinion, in [James] Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota. I feel if I compete with them every single day at training then it gives me confidence going in every week against my opposition front-rowers. "I appreciate those two boys. They've done a lot for me in my short NRL time and it's going to be sad playing against them." In the wake of consecutive State of Origin losses, Leniu is up for Blues consideration as New South Wales coach Brad Fittler finds himself under pressure to make changes. And Leniu has shown selectors that he is ready to take on the physical challenge that is Origin football. "It's a dream and it's only gonna be a dream until it's a reality," Leniu said. "I'm just gonna put this at the forefront of my mind, these Penrith boys, and try to play the best I can [and] be the best teammate I can. "And if that comes with it then I'll be taking that opportunity with both hands… But I'm not really thinking about that, I just want to play good footy for the boys." Leniu will have the opportunity to further state his case in the Panthers' battle against the Storm on Friday night. For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here! Panthers forward Spencer Leniu has weighed in on his fiery on-field feud with Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. During the Panthers' round 15 loss to the Tricolours, the 22-year-old found himself in a flashpoint moment with Waerea-Hargreaves, requiring players from both sides to separate the pair. However, Leniu showed no signs of backing down, instead challenging the Kiwi veteran to finish what they started in the car park after the match. READ MORE: DCE retirement theory explains Manly buys READ MORE: Players on edge after 'confronting' pitch protest READ MORE: Alcaraz earns top seed in 20-year Wimbledon first "You know, when you're in that red (mist) head, you just say whatever," Leniu said. "Whatever happens on the field stays on the field. But if he wants to escalate it, I'm keen too. He's been there for 10-plus years, if he wants to hold a grudge, that's on him. "I couldn't care less. I'll just do whatever I can for the team and cross that bridge when it comes." Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now At the time of the incident, Penrith playmaker Jarome Luai said Waerea-Hargreaves had overstepped on the field and that the Panthers players had had enough of his antics. Luai also claimed Waerea-Hargreaves had been sledging Leniu in the lead-up to the incident after teammate Moses Leota was removed from the field for a HIA after copping an elbow from Waerea-Hargreaves. "[He] ticked us all off … there's got to be a drawing of a line in the sand. We'd had enough of him," said Luai. Both players were sent to the bin following Leniu's heated spray, while the Panthers youngster also received a fine from the NRL match review committee for his actions. Leniu said his intention on impulse was solely to protect his teammate from being bullied. "In the heat of the moment I was sort of protecting Jarome," he said. "Whatever happens on the field stays on the field. I think it was a good spectacle for the fans, seeing all that stuff instead of seeing the usual week-to-week footy, a bit of beef in the game. The heated dispute between the prop-forwards will need to be resolved before the duo become teammates in 2024, with Leniu signing a three-year deal with the Roosters. "It's a funny one thinking about it, with me going there next year, but it is what it is," Leniu said. "I'm gonna do whatever I can to be the best I can be this year to help me get another [premiership] ring and I'll just worry about that stuff when it comes. "Jared's not on my mind every week. I've got the best two front-rowers in my opinion, in [James] Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota. I feel if I compete with them every single day at training then it gives me confidence going in every week against my opposition front-rowers. "I appreciate those two boys. They've done a lot for me in my short NRL time and it's going to be sad playing against them." In the wake of consecutive State of Origin losses, Leniu is up for Blues consideration as New South Wales coach Brad Fittler finds himself under pressure to make changes. And Leniu has shown selectors that he is ready to take on the physical challenge that is Origin football. "It's a dream and it's only gonna be a dream until it's a reality," Leniu said. "I'm just gonna put this at the forefront of my mind, these Penrith boys, and try to play the best I can [and] be the best teammate I can. "And if that comes with it then I'll be taking that opportunity with both hands… But I'm not really thinking about that, I just want to play good footy for the boys." Leniu will have the opportunity to further state his case in the Panthers' battle against the Storm on Friday night. For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here! https://ift.tt/RIBcqvW //
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