By Dan Walsh
Spencer Leniu was running scared of Nick Politis at one point, then feared the Roosters patriarch would sack him just one game into his Tricolours career.
But with full appreciation of the club’s support through the racism saga that started his Roosters tenure with the lowest point in his career, Leniu has now committed for the next three years as their chief enforcer.
Alongside fellow NSW Origin debutant Connor Watson, Leniu has earned a finals eve pay day after inking a two-year extension that keeps him at the Roosters until the end of 2027.
Leniu initially signed with the Roosters on a two-year deal worth around $550,000 this season, only to spend the first few months of this season serving an eight-game suspension for racially abusing Brisbane’s Ezra Mam in Las Vegas.
Roosters hierarchy led by coach Trent Robinson and Politis supported their star recruit through the fallout, with Leniu recalling his initial nerves meeting one of rugby league’s most powerful figures.
“You find your true friends and your circle really quick when you go through hard times in life,” Leniu said.
Spencer Leniu has been one of the NRL’s form front-rowers since returning from suspension. Credit: Getty Images
“Obviously that was a downfall and for them to stick up for me, someone they didn’t really know, at that time they could’ve easily given me the flick.
“But they stuck by me and who I am as a person and that’s what really drew me to wanting to re-sign … I remember my first time meeting Nick, it was so intimidating. This is the guy that everyone in the NRL talks about.
“I shook his hand and just walked away, but he’s a top bloke. My partner is Greek so they get along well. I’m just so stoked I get to build upon those relationships that I’ve built with these boys.
“When I came back my intent was to repay the Roosters for what they did for me in that time, and I’m just grateful to be here and I’m looking forward to doing something special here.”
Spencer Leniu makes a charge for the NSW Blues in June.Credit: Getty Images
After leaving Penrith at the end of 2023 with a third premiership, Leniu also “didn’t think I was going to like” life in the eastern suburbs and feared homesickness could drag him back west once his initial two-year contract finished.
Now he shapes as a key pillar of the Roosters’ next generation, alongside recently re-signed forwards Watson, Angus Crichton, Terrell May and front-row leader Lindsay Collins.
Rising halfback Sam Walker remains a retention priority given the looming exodus of Joey Manu, Joseph Suaalii, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke Keary at the end of 2024.
The Roosters travel to the Gold Coast on Sunday, taking on marquee back-rower David Fifita for the first time since he had second thoughts after committing to a $2.4m, three-year offer, prompting Politis to pull the deal in mid-May.
Ironically, Fifita also bonded with Politis during negotiations by speaking Greek down the phone line to the 82-year-old thanks to the influence of his own girlfriend, Titans NRLW star Shaylee Bent.
A concussion from being hit high by Parramatta’s Wiremu Greig last week has ruled Watson out of this week’s clash, with the NSW utility “pretty pissed off” at the shot given two Eels players had already stopped his progress when Greig came in with a swinging arm.
“I was pretty pissed off because you’re out for the game, then another week, and we just came off the bye so I was looking forward to a good month of footy,” Watson said.
“But he got his suspension and it is what it is.”
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