'No one better': Gus puts Leniu in frame for Blues

Phil Gould has floated Spencer Leniu as a shock candidate for a NSW Blues jumper, despite a lack of game-time.

With less than three weeks remaining until squads for the State of Origin series-opener are picked, Gould believes Leniu would be the perfect inclusion off the bench as an impact player – exactly the role he was used in at the Panthers.

But given Leniu is fresh off an eight-match ban for making a racist remark to Ezra Mam in his Roosters debut in Las Vegas in March, such a selection wouldn’t come without risk.

Gould said Leniu’s inclusion would go against his own selection policy, in that every player – even those on the bench – be capable of playing 80 minutes.

Spencer Leniu in action for the Sydney Roosters against the Broncos.

“Spencer has never been used in that – he’s always been used as impact off the bench … and there’s no one better at that,” Gould said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus.

“Spencer Leniu can be quite dynamic coming off the bench. He can change the momentum of the game. If you’re behind he can change it and if you’re on top he just puts them to the sword.”

Leniu has been named to make his return against the Warriors on Sunday afternoon, and will have a maximum of three games before squads for Origin I are named on May 27.

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Gould said a lack of match fitness would be a concern for coach Michael Maguire.

“If someone went down in the first minute and you had to say ‘Spencer, you’ve gotta go 79 minutes mate’, that would be different,” he said.

“But he’s an impact player, he’ll graduate over time. I think the intention is to train him up and get him to being a 50-60 minute contributor, and that’s pretty much where you want your middle forwards these days.”

Origin I is in Sydney on June 5.