NRL: Spencer Leniu set to swap Panthers for Roosters in 2024

The Sydney Roosters have continued their incredible recruitment drive prior to the 2023 NRL season, with reports suggesting Spencer Leniu will join the club in 2024. It’s been reported the Panthers star has informed his teammates he will leave Penrith at season’s end.

Leniu is one of many Penrith Panthers juniors the club has failed to retain in recent months. He began in Penrith’s Jersey Flegg Cup side in 2019 before progressing through the Canterbury Cup (NSW Cup) to their first-grade side in the one season.

Leniu has been an integral part of the Panthers’ forward rotation in recent years, providing aggression and spark off the bench in place of James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota. In the 62 games Leniu has played at first-grade level, he has only been a part of nine losses at the Panthers.

READ: Tigers, Roosters lead the way with major signings ahead of 2023 NRL season

Leniu’s 2022 season was his best by, far recording 40 tackle breaks, over 700 post-contact metres and running for more than 1,800 metres. He also scored six tries for the Panthers, having only scored one in his previous three seasons.

Leniu’s impressive form for the two-time NRL Premiership winners earned him a place in the Samoan side for the 2022 Rugby League World Cup. There, he helped his nation record a big win over France before taking down England in the semi-finals to play Australia in the decider.

Leniu will be joining a young, star-studded roster at the Roosters boasting names such as Joseph Manu, Joseph Suaalii, Sam Walker, Brandon Smith, and Victor Radley.

Leniu has been a player the Roosters have identified as the long-term replacement for current starting prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. The 34-year-old enforcer is entering his 14th season in the NRL and comes off contract at the end of the year.

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