'Worth every penny': Leniu ready to show value against future club

Spencer Leniu says he’s determined to show the Roosters exactly what they've signed when he faces the Tricolours for the first time since inking a long-term deal with the club.

There was no questioning Leniu’s commitment to the Panthers - the club he is set to say goodbye to - at Magic Round with the bench prop scoring a try, running 115 metres from 11 carries and making 21 tackles.

His barnstorming effort to help the Panthers clinch victory in the final stages of their 18-6 win over the Warriors would've been music to the ears for the Roosters, who signed the forward in February. 

However, don't expect the 22-year-old to take his future club lightly next week despite conceding there'd be some mixed emotions. 

“It’s just a normal game, obviously I’m signed there but I guess if you’re not beside me you’re against me,” Leniu said following Saturday night’s match.

“I’m just worried about the Panthers, it’s my last year here and thinking about it is pretty crazy, I get a bit emotional.

“I owe it to this club to put my best foot forward. I grew up with a lot of these boys but I try not to think about it too much because it’s going to be sad to leave.

“It was a big decision [to leave] but they (Roosters) are a team who are contenders for the title every year and that was a big factor in why I went to them. I want to contend for the premiership every year. 

“Moving to a different place and just getting away from what I know and explore my boundaries. I want to perform to the best of my ability to show them I’m worth every penny."

The future of veteran Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is uncertain next year but Leniu hopes the Kiwis stalwart can go around at least one more season so he can play alongside him at the Tricolours.

“He’s a veteran of the game and the mould for front rowers,” Leniu said.

"Just in general, young front rowers should be looking up to him with his aggression, I definitely looked up to him when I was coming up so it will be cool to play against him. 

“I’ll just let Fisher (Fisher-Harriss) and Moses (Leota) take care of him and I’ll just handle whoever they have on the bench because when he’s on I’m off and when I’m on he’s off."

In the only concern for the departing prop, he will be sent for scans after he was victim of an alleged hip-drop tackle that saw Jackson Ford cited by the Match Review Committee on Sunday.

"I just felt my ankle go a bit but it wasn’t too bad, I’ll just drill it out with the physios throughout the week but should be right. I should be sweet (for next week)," he said.