‘People talking smack about him’: Spencer Leniu addresses Sydney Roosters teammates over exit rumours

Suspended forward Spencer Leniu has fronted his Sydney Roosters teammates to address rumours he wants out of the club to return to the Panthers.

Spencer Leniu has fronted his Sydney Roosters teammates to assure them he’s not going anywhere after rumours appeared online he wants out to return to Penrith.

Unfounded speculation appeared on social media in recent weeks suggesting the Roosters prop wants out of the Bondi club to go back to the Panthers, where he won three premierships between 2021 to 2023.

While Roosters chairman Nick Politis rubbished the rumours in an interview with this masthead over the weekend, the whispers ran rampant on social media and have forced Leniu to reassure his teammates.

Leniu is suspended for the first two games of the year but teammate Angus Crichton says he’s desperate to silence the haters once he returns.

“He’s good. Obviously disappointed. He’s really keen to get back out there, especially among some of the people talking smack about him in the media,” Crichton said ahead of Thursday’s season opener against Brisbane.

“It’s hard. I have been in the same position where people are talking rumours and making stuff up. It can be unsettling and annoying.

Spencer Leniu has denied rumours he wants out of the club. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“It’s even harder when you can’t play and show the boys.

“But he has spoken to us and we know the kind of guy he is. We all love Spence and we back him as well.”

The rumours first appeared on social media which speculated a mystery player was unhappy and wanted to return to his former club.

Leniu was then suddenly linked, which angered him.

As a member of the Roosters leadership group he fronted teammates to knock it on the head.

“He essentially said I am not going anywhere. This is where I want to be,” Crichton said.

“I think he was a bit pissed off that people would think we lose a few trial games and he wants out.

“It’s annoying when people talk rubbish. It’s just weird that you can make some bullshit up and run with it.”

Roosters skipper James Tedesco echoed Crichton’s sentiment.

“He’s handled it all pretty well. There were those rumours he just addressed with the group and he said it’s not true. He put it to bed pretty quickly,” he said.

The former Panthers prop joined the Roosters in 2024 but missed eight weeks early in the season for calling Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam a racial slur during the season opener in Las Vegas.

He was due for a huge start to the season this year, moving from the bench as an impact forward to the starting front row in place of club legend Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

However, he will miss Thursday’s clash with Brisbane and Round 2 against Penrith as he serves a ban for a high shot out of the club’s second trial game.

“It’s disappointing for him, missing the start of the year. He is a crucial part of our team, had a great pre-season,” Tedesco said.

“He’s really developed into a great leader with some of those leaders going. He is going to get better and better.”

Originally published as ‘People talking smack about him’: Spencer Leniu addresses Sydney Roosters teammates over exit rumours