Spencer Leniu Faces Two-Game Ban Over Ref Spray at World Cup
Samoa front rower Spencer Leniu, a Parramatta Eels signing, has been charged with grade three contrary conduct after a sin-binning for confronting referee Adam Gee against Australia. He faces a two-game ban with an early plea, or three if found guilty.
Samoa front rower Spencer Leniu, a star Parramatta Eels recruit, has been charged with grade three contrary conduct after he was sin-binned for confronting referee Adam Gee in his side's World Cup loss to Australia. He faces a two-game ban even with an early plea.
If Leniu is found guilty at the panel, he risks three games. The suspension could cost him the start of his Eels career, with the club's season opener next year at risk.
Samoa fell apart against the Kangaroos. It needed a near-faultless performance from its leaders to pull off an upset.
What happened
Leniu gave away the ball early in the tackle count before Australia's third try. He then joined an all-in melee that led Gee to call both captains, Isaah Yeo and Jarome Luai, together.
Just before halftime, Leniu "made a beeline" for Gee, according to Channel 7 sideline reporter and Kiwis great Shaun Johnson. The two exchanged words, and Leniu was sent to the sin bin.
What Leniu said is not known. He appeared to make a money gesture as he walked toward the sideline.
Johnson read the gesture as a complaint about fairness. "If he is giving that gesture it has to suggest that he doesn't feel like this is fair odds for them," he said.
He was blunt about the conduct itself. "He's an emotional player but he got this wrong," Johnson said. "No player can approach a ref unless you're the skipper."
Precedent and other charges
Veteran reporter David Riccio pointed to earlier cases on Channel 7. Brandon Smith and Reece Walsh were sin-binned for dissent in 2023, he said, and "they've both received three match suspensions".
"So it doesn't augur well if you're a Parramatta fan with your brand new signings heading your way," Riccio said. The match review committee will decide the outcome.
Luai was placed on report for a lifting tackle. He faces only a warning after a grade one dangerous throw charge.
Samoa conceded five penalties in the first half. Luke Keary said on Channel 7's coverage that front rower Junior Paulo spoke to Gee at halftime in what he described as an "animated discussion".
"He's not happy at all. He's just stormed off," Keary said.
Johnson said Australia's play was piling pressure on the Samoans. "They're not able to control their emotions at the moment," he said.
"Their energy's being put into the wrong places and when you get that, you bounce off tackles, you get people starting to try and make up for it."
