Premiership propelling Leniu into Samoa's World Cup charge
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Samoa coach Ben Gardiner has backed Spencer Leniu to build on his dominant grand final display as the Roosters prop prepares to reunite with his former Panthers teammates at the IRL Rugby League World Cup.
Leniu will link up with close friends Jarome Luai, Brian To'o and Stephen Crichton as they look to recreate Samoa's historic run to the final at the 2022 World Cup.
The quartet combined to win three premierships from 2021-2023, before Crichton joined the Bulldogs and Leniu moved to the Roosters, with Luai and To'o adding a fourth in 2024.
Leniu collected his fourth ring in Sunday night's 19-18 grand final victory over the Knights.
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Luai, To'o and Crichton were on hand to watch the prop produce a match-turning stint off the bench and Gardiner backed the group to lead Samoa's charge throughout the next month.
"It was game-changing," Gardiner said of Leniu's grand final display. "Phenomenal. His performance was an indication of the level of play he's at and I look forward to him bringing that for Samoa.
"The connection of those guys is an indication of the connection of our team in general. On Friday we'll come into camp and those guys will be connected immediately.
"We do have some debutants and we've had a lot of conversations with those debutants. When those guys come into camp they've got to be themselves and bring their personality with them because that's the best way to connect.
"The fact the other three were there supporting Spencer is a real indication of the type of connection we have in our team and the mateship we bring."
Gardiner has named a talent-laden squad for the upcoming tournament, with Samoa to open their campaign against France at CommBank Stadium next Friday.
A trip to Papua New Guinea follows before a showdown with Pacific rivals Tonga in Parramatta on November 1.
Given the tournament structure, the match will likely be a sudden-death playoff for a spot in the semi-finals.
Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow headlines a 23-man squad that also features Melbourne star Sua Fa'alogo, Parramatta enforcer Junior Paulo and Brisbane's Deine Mariner.
Crichton puts Samoa in the final!
Newcastle's Samoan contingent have been rewarded for their fairytale run through the finals series with Francis Manuleleua, Jermaine McEwen, Greg Marzhew and Pasami Saulo all selected.
While Payne Haas and Terrell May were unavailable, Gardiner remains confident he has a squad capable of taking out the tournament.
"It's the strongest team we've been able to put together since the last World Cup," Gardiner said. "We've got a real balance of experience and youth and some guys that are in great form so it's a great opportunity for us, our fans and our people.
"Our aim over the last four years was to build experience into our team, grow out key positions and bring guys along so that when we hit Rugby League World Cup 26, we were ready with our best team available."
Luai has worn the No.7 jumper for Samoa throughout the past two years and is set to retain the role for the World Cup.
Gardiner has a number of options for his halves partner, with Chanel Harris-Tavita, Clayton Faulalo and Ronald Volkman all in the squad. Crichton is likely to line up in the centres but finished the NRL season at five-eighth and also shapes as a candidate.
Toa Samoa lay down the Challenge
While Luai endured a challenging NRL season with the Tigers, Gardiner is confident Samoa will play a style that unlocks the playmaker's running game.
"He's played seven a number of times for us," Gardiner said. "There's that type of game where he's required to manage the game for us as a seven. He's our most experienced player in that area and he'll handle it well.
"We play a style of football that's a powerful style of football, a go-forward style of football that requires a lot of support, which opens up his running game.
"We all know he's at his best when he runs the ball so we'll be encouraging him to do that."
Samoa World Cup Squad
Shawn Blore Anae Ulesese (Melbourne Storm), Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Sua Fa’alogo (Melbourne Storm), Clayton Faulalo (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors), Benaiah Ioelu (Sydney Roosters), Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Spencer Leniu (Sydney Roosters), Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers), Francis Manuleleua (Newcastle Knights), Deine Mariner (Brisbane Broncos), Ata Mariota (Canberra Raiders), Greg Marzhew (Newcastle Knights), Jermaine McEwen (Newcastle Knights), Francis Molo (Dolphins), Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels), Pasami Saulo (Newcastle Knights), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers), Jazz Tevaga (Wakefield Trinity), Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers), Enari Tuala (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Ronald Volkman (Parramatta Eels)
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