Leniu driven by his last ride with Penrith brothers

Scott Bailey | September 7, 2023

Spencer Leniu and Stephen Crichton will take a moment on Saturday afternoon to take in what the next month means to them as local Penrith juniors.

Then, in Leniu’s words, he will prepare for one last emotional ride with his brothers at BlueBet Stadium.

The Panthers are well adept at losing players from NRL premiership-winning teams, with six from their 2021 grand-final team having gone in the past two years.

But Crichton and Leniu’s impending departures to Canterbury and the Sydney Roosters respectively have hit a little closer to home.

The St Clair and Minchinbury juniors are the first of the current crop of local western Sydney talent to be lured elsewhere, after being in the Penrith system since their teens.

They played junior club football together, went to school together at Patrician Brothers Blacktown and debuted in the NRL alongside each other in July 2019 against Cronulla.

“I’ll probably have my moment with a few of the boys, especially Critta,” Leniu told AAP.

“It’s gonna be his last (home) game too. I’ll go share a moment with my Penrith family. 

“I debuted here. They were there for me then and that top left of the hill they’re always up there.

“I don’t know if I’ll be emotional or not. We’ll just have to see after the game. 

“But leading up to it I’ll just think about preparing with the brothers for war on Saturday, and worry about the emotions after that.”

Leniu said he and Crichton would be using it as motivation in Penrith’s bid for a rare three-peat, beginning with Saturday’s qualifying final against the Warriors.

“This is like our last ride,” Leniu said. 

“That’s the approach we’re taking. I don’t want to leave any stone unturned in these next couple of weeks. I don’t want to have any regrets.

“I’m trying my best to prepare and do everything I can to perform for the brothers and that’s all I’m gonna do.”

Leniu said he had not let himself consider what kind of reception he would get when he returned to BlueBet Stadium next year in a Sydney Roosters jersey.

“I honestly don’t know what it’s going to be like,” he said. 

“That’s why I think I might as well just embrace the times where they embrace me before they are against me. 

“I’m going to do everything I can to be in the good books and hopefully that helps me next year.”