Paul Gallen urges NSW firebrand Spencer Leniu not to lose his head ahead of hostile Suncorp Stadium reception
No stranger to a hostile reception himself, NSW legend Paul Gallen has urged Spencer Leniu not to lose his head as he enters the opening game of the State of Origin series as the most despised man in Queensland.
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NSW legend Paul Gallen has urged Spencer Leniu not to get “caught up in the crap” next week as the Sydney Roosters firebrand returns to Suncorp Stadium as the most vilified man in a Blues jersey.
Leniu is expected to receive a hostile reception in the Origin series opener, a position Gallen was in many times himself over the course of his stellar Origin career.
If anyone can empathise with what Leniu is about to endure, it is Gallen, who was inducted into the NSW Blues Hall of Fame on Monday night.
“There will be no issues for Spencer,” Gallen said.
“He’ll be fine. He’s a great player, he’s a powerhouse, he’s a bit of a beast. Just don’t get caught up in the crap.
“Remember you’re there to do a job for your team. Pushing and shoving, throwing punches, especially this day and age, it doesn’t help anyone. Just keep your head.
“I don’t know him well, but it doesn’t look like too much fazes him. We like guys who wear their heart on their sleeve, say what they think and be themselves.
“For him, he just needs to understand he’s there to do a job for the team. If he does that job we know he can dot, he’ll be successful.
“If he goes there, loses his head, pushes and shoves and starts throwing punches and gets sin-binned or gives away a stupid penalty, that’s when you hurt your teammates.
“We’ve all got ego, we all want to be the tough guy, but at the end of the day, it’s a team sport, and you need to be there for your team.”
Gallen did that as well as anyone over a 24-game career for the Blues, which was rewarded with his ascent to the NSW Rugby League Hall of Fame.
His career was celebrated with video footage of the famous incident when he rained blows on Queensland forward Nate Myles, a moment that prompted the NRL to outlaw the punch.
Three years ago in an article with this masthead, Gallen concede he wasn’t proud of that moment in his career. He reiterated as much on Monday night.
“I would have much rather have won that series than have a fight with Nate Myles,” Gallen said.
“I hate it. It makes you feel uncomfortable. It’s not rugby league. I was never happy it happened. Nate Myles and I did things to each other on the football field, if we got caught for it, we’d be suspended 10-12 weeks, and that was back when we were playing, let alone today.
“But we never whinged or complained. I was only doing what I thought was the best thing for the team to try and get the victory. That’s all it was. To be talking about a fight 12 years later, I do cringe.”
His only hope now is that Leniu heeds his advice in just over a week given the outcome if you throw a punch in the modern game. Leniu will be in the crosshairs of Maroons fans from the moment he enters the stadium given his well-documented spat with Queensland legend Johnathan Thurston earlier this season.
Queensland supporters haven’t forgotten. He will need to keep his emotions in check.
“I think he’s got the fastest play the ball in the game,” Gallen said.
“He doesn’t have big minutes, but he’s an absolute powerhouse, and the intensity he plays at is through the roof. I think as an Origin player coming off the bench, that’s what you need.
“He only needs to play about 25 minutes and rip and tear. He’s a pretty scary bloke to have out there for only 25 minutes, going as hard as he can.”
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