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Queensland legend Darren Lockyer believes there is “no doubt” the Spencer Leniu issue would have been raised in camp prior to the State of Origin opener.
The firebrand NSW Blues prop was involved in a well-publicised spat with Johnathan Thurston earlier this year stemming from last year’s racism saga, when Leniu was handed a long suspension for calling Ezra Mam a “monkey” during a game.
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Leniu will be the centre of attention on Wednesday night in front of 50,000 diehard fans at Suncorp Stadium.
A Brisbane newspaper headline on Tuesday urged the Maroons to “smash this Blues grub”, throwing a match on the fire that was no doubt already burning north of the Tweed.
Billy Slater denied that going after Leniu had been spoken about with his players, even questioning what all the fuss was about in his pre-game press conference.
Johnathan Thurston and Spencer Leniu clashed earlier this year. NRL Photos
When asked about the newspaper headline and the simmering Leniu feud the Queensland coach replied, “what situation is that?”.
But speaking on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER, one of the Maroons selectors cast doubt on Slater’s denial.
“I reckon that would have been addressed at some point in the camp,” Lockyer said.
“Origin motivates you naturally – but as a coach, if you can prod a few players and get them fired up, you do it.
“I’ve got no doubt there would have been a conversation within the group like ‘hey boys, let’s try and prove a point here and get stuck into him’.”
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Spencer Leniu will be public enemy No.1 in Queensland. Getty
Leniu made his Origin debut last year and was enormous off the bench for the Blues as they came from behind to claim the series 2-1.
This year, Queensland will welcome back Tino Fa’asuamaleaui in a major boost to their front-row stocks, while Cameron Munster is set to return at five-eighth.
Lockyer was also quizzed about the tame build-up to the series and acknowledged that Slater and Blues coach Laurie Daley would have been “instructing” their stars to keep a lid on things.
“Definitely as we’ve evolved, there’s less shots fired – back in the day, there were plenty of characters in either team that would be willing to fire up the opposition,” he said.
“I think that both coaches would be instructing players not to say anything to motivate the opposition.
“It is what it is these days, but I’m sure there are plenty of Queenslanders who don’t need any motivation anyway.”
