Eels rail against ‘unfair’ suspension of Spencer Leniu

New Parramatta chief executive Mike Rush says it is unfair that the two-match ban handed down to Samoa firebrand Spencer Leniu during the World Cup will wipe him out of the Eels’ 2027 season opener, pointing to a loophole that has previously allowed players to serve their suspensions in trials.

Leniu has accepted a two-game ban for making a money gesture, which was interpreted as questioning the integrity of the referees, after Adam Gee sin-binned him for dissent in Samoa’s semi-final loss to Australia. The four-time premiership-winning forward must serve the sanction in NRL matches, delaying his start for the Eels, including their round one match against the Titans in Las Vegas.

Under NRL rules, grade-three charges – such as the one Leniu received – can’t be served in trials.

During the last World Cup, held in England in 2022, Roosters forward Angus Crichton used an International Rugby League [IRL] loophole to serve a one-game ban for elbowing Chanel Harris-Tavita in the tournament during the pre-season.

Because that World Cup was staged in England, Crichton was bound by IRL rules which allow suspensions to be served in trials. However, under NRL rules, that’s not an option for Leniu.

The NRL has been contacted for comment.

“From the club’s point of view, it’s a little frustrating to see that, because the World Cup is in Australia, we can’t use the trial games,” Rush said.

“Whereas, had the World Cup been in England, he’d be free to play in round one. It feels a little unfair on both the player and the club that the location of the World Cup dictates how you can serve your suspension.

“[Crichton] got a one-game ban, but because the World Cup is in England, he was allowed to serve that one-game ban in a pre-season trial. Because this is being played in Australia, we can’t use pre-season games because the NRL rules don’t allow that.

“We should have a set of international rules. It’s just not fair.

“It’s not fair on the club, we release the players to play [Tests] and we want the players to play, but then we don’t have a standardised outcome for serving suspensions.”

Rush also pointed to the fact that Newcastle and New Zealand hooker Phoenix Crossland, who was suspended for four matches for a sickening hip-drop tackle that badly injured Penrith star Nathan Cleary in an NRL preliminary final, served his suspension both on grand final day and during the World Cup.

“He’s able to use the World Cup to serve his ban and play in round one for the Knights,” Rush said.

“So they are getting a benefit from the World Cup, and we’re being punished.

“When I say punished, I don’t mean that it’s unjust – what [Leniu] did was wrong. But Angus Crichton got a game and he was able to play.

“It’s frustrating. I’m not having a crack at anyone, it’s a consequence that nobody has looked at, where previously they have been able to serve it [during the pre-season] and now they are not. It’s not malicious or done to see players suffer, but it should have been looked at before, in my opinion.”

Rush’s stance comes as the Eels returned to training and the club took a light-hearted dig at the PNG Chiefs’ for being able to attract recruits with federal government tax-free dollars. Parramatta posted a clip on social media of its players running laps with the caption: “When we get exhausted at work and we want to give up, we remember who we do all this for.” The screen then reverts to a logo for the Australian Taxation Office.

While the Chiefs have signed a raft of stars well before their inaugural 2028 season, they have missed out on the signature of Cooper Bai. The Gold Coast forward became the first player to knock back the Chiefs after visiting Port Moresby, opting to instead sign a three-year contract with Melbourne from 2028.

The Storm officially trumpeted the announcement on Wednesday, with the focus now turning to whether a deal can be brokered with the Titans that allows him to shift immediately.