Why a bad virus in a COVID year is driving Spencer Lenius grand final regret

After being cruelly denied his own spot last year due to illness, Panthers prop Spencer Leniu is embracing a case of grand final deja vu as he looms as the big winner if Tevita Pangai jnr is ruled out of this year’s decider.

Pangai jnr is battling to overcome a knee injury in time to face the Rabbitohs on Sunday night and the ex-Brisbane forward was pulled from a planned media session on Monday.

Pangai jnr was seen hobbling around in a knee brace at Penrith’s Sunshine Coast base and is considered the most serious health concern for the Panthers, who have battled their way through the finals with a number of injuries, including to Moses Leota (calf), James Fisher-Harris (knee), Dylan Edwards (foot) and Brian To’o (ankle).

Leniu, 21, shapes as the likely go-to man for Ivan Cleary should Pangai jnr be ruled out.

Leniu played his first game in more than a month in the preliminary final win against the Storm, replacing Leota, who is expected to be fit for the grand final. Fisher-Harris declared his availability on Monday and he could be joined Leniu, who revealed an untimely case of Rhinovirus robbed him of a chance for a grand final spot last year.

“I was named to play in the preliminary [final last year] against the Rabbitohs and I got sick on the Monday and I wasn’t allowed to train with the boys,” Leniu said. “That kind of ruled me out. That was pretty hard to take. If I played that game maybe I would have played in the grand final as well.

Spencer Lenius is hoping to win a spot in Penrith’s grand final squad after a bizarre illness last year.Credit:Getty

“I didn’t feel like I was sick enough to not play, but I thought for the sake of the team I would get a COVID test. I didn’t want to give anything to the boys before a [preliminary] final. It was a hard pill to swallow at the time, definitely. Whether I’m in the team or not I’m going to support the boys 100 per cent.”

Leniu knocked back a number of approaches, including from Craig Bellamy and the Storm, to commit his future to the Panthers late last year. And he could be the Panthers’ x-factor after a head-turning 11 minutes last week in the grand final qualifier.

Penrith co-captain Isaah Yeo said it was nothing unusual for the Panthers to be restricted with who they could put on the training paddock.

“It’s been like this for the last four or five weeks,” Yeo said. “I can’t really remember the last time we had our full 17 ... probably from the Origin period, to be fair with the injuries. It’s obviously not ideal and it’s something we’ve dealt with well over that period.

“Best case scenario would be to have your 1-17 all fit and healthy, but it’s just never the case once you get to this time of year.”

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