Queensland had the chance to make a statement and turn the tide of the State of Origin opener by going after Blues agitator Spencer Leniu on Wednesday night.
Instead what the Maroons did left Leniu spitting chips and hunting to get some ball.
Leniu was lashed by a prominent Brisbane newspaper on Origin eve. The back page headline read “smash this Blues grub”.
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Last year he was punished for a racial slur against Broncos player Ezra Mam, and earlier this season he reignited the fire by getting into a verbal stoush with Maroons icon Johnathan Thurston during a game.
He started on the bench in game one and was brought into the action after a Brian To’o try put NSW up 10-0 about 10 minutes before half time.
Blues forward Spencer Leniu fires up at Queensland. Nine
“There has been plenty of movement on the sidelines – Lindsay Collins is about to come on, and Spencer Leniu,” Nine’s sideline man Brad Fittler said.
“I’m not sure if the crowd has worked it out yet, but he’s just gone on.”
Commentator Mat Thompson noted, “It won’t take them long to work out Spencer is out there… He might carry the kick-off back from the resumption shortly”.
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When the raucous Suncorp Stadium faithful did realise who had just run onto the field, a chorus of boos rang out.
Leniu was pacing and champing at the bit, ready to take the first hit-up after the try and see what the Queensland defence had for him.
Instead the Maroons lined up to kick the ball right – away from Leniu.
“Spencer has just realised Queensland aren’t going to kick to him from the restart,” Thompson said.
“They’re going to the opposite side. The Queensland press put a bounty on his head, he is public enemy No.1 here tonight.”
Leniu was seen pointing and yelling at the Maroons for taking the moment away from him.
“He is blowing up,” Blues legend Andrew Johns laughed.
“Get ready, here comes Spencer. Spencer will be off the back fence.”
Spencer Leniu gives it to the Suncorp Stadium crowd. Getty
When Leniu did take his first hit-up he was met with a rather standard tackle from Harry Grant and Reuben Cotter – hardly the bone-rattling reception Queensland fans were hoping for.
The Maroons coaches and players refused to mention Leniu during the build-up and they missed a trick by failing to use the feud to fire them up when it was needed – they lost the contest 18-6.
In just 24 minutes on the field Leniu had seven runs for one tackle break, but provided some energy and go-forward when his team needed it.
He also landed 10 tackles at a 100 per cent efficiency rate, and was later seen sticking his tongue out at the crowd when the Blues triumphed.
