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Samoa’s variety of tournament-ending accidents by way of this World Cup has mounted by the week, and Spencer Leniu was presupposed to be certainly one of them.
Key factors:
- Spencer Leniu battled by way of a shoulder harm to play for Samoa of their semifinal win over England
- Leniu subluxed his shoulder late within the NRL season and aggravated the harm once more towards France
- Samoa have misplaced 5 gamers in the course of the World Cup to accidents and one has returned dwelling for private causes
The Panthers prop aggravated a shoulder harm towards France two weeks in the past and his World Cup marketing campaign was meant to be over.
However as extra forwards went down main as much as the semifinal towards England, Leniu pushed by way of the ache barrier and took the sphere for the best day in Samoan rugby league historical past, taking part in his half within the extraordinary golden level victory.
“We have constructed that ‘subsequent man up’ mentality. If I needed to break my shoulder for the brothers I might have finished it, and I do not suppose it is that removed from damaged, so hopefully the boys appreciated that one,” Leniu stated.
“I used to be making an attempt my greatest to not discuss to the physios in the course of the week.
“We went by way of a variety of adversity once they pumped us by 54 factors and everybody was writing us off. To come back excessive of that’s actually particular.
“It is a credit score to the brothers. We have constructed a variety of chemistry between each other and that ‘subsequent man up’ mentality was key for us.”
Leniu suffered his authentic harm, a shoulder subluxation, again in August whereas taking part in for the Panthers.
There was some minor ligament and cartilage harm however not sufficient to require a reconstruction, so Leniu was capable of play his half in Penrith’s premiership victory earlier than banging up his shoulder once more within the win over France.
He is hopeful of with the ability to take the sphere for the World Cup closing towards Australia at Outdated Trafford on Sunday morning (AEDT) however stated it was too early to make a name on his health simply but.
“I am simply going to take it day-to-day,” Leniu stated.
“It would not really feel too good proper now. We’ll see the way it goes in the course of the week, however hopefully I can play.”
Leniu’s braveness is indicative of Samoa’s unbelievable resilience – the island nation’s resolve has by no means shaken regardless of dropping gamers in droves by way of the event.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tyrone Might, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Josh Aloiai and Izack Tago had been all misplaced to harm, and Danny Levi returned to Australia for private causes.
However by way of all of it, Samoa saved defying the percentages and now they are going to tackle the Kangaroos in a historic second for your complete nation.
“We did this for lots of people around the globe and I hope all of the Samoans are pleased with us,” Leniu stated.
“It was particular simply to get previous that quarterfinal, Samoa had by no means finished that earlier than, not to mention made the ultimate.
“It is loopy. I simply hope we encourage youthful Samoans to try to play for Samoa. I do know there’s a variety of allegiance from Origin and the Kangaroos and all that, however these younger Samoans on the market, I hope we encourage you to play for Samoa and characterize your heritage.
“That is the message we needed to ship.”
Samoa can be with out hooker Fa’amanu Brown after he suffered a concussion towards England, however obtained a serious increase with skipper Junior Paulo free to play after he escaped suspension for his lifting sort out on England’s Tom Burgess.
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