LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Darren Lockyer has responded to Billy Slater's assertion that the Queensland team is not using Spencer Leniu's recent clash with Johnathan Thurston as motivation ahead of the State of Origin opener.
Lockyer insists that there is "no doubt" Queensland will leverage Leniu's confrontation with Thurston to fuel their performance.
Leniu, representing New South Wales, made headlines when he confronted Thurston, a cherished figure in Queensland, during a Roosters game at Suncorp Stadium.
Tensions escalated after Leniu expressed his anger over Thurston's criticism regarding a racial slur incident involving Ezra Mam, calling the Queensland legend "two-faced" and "fake" on social media.
The incident has intensified the rivalry, with Leniu now perceived as "public enemy No.
1" in Queensland.
Despite Slater's attempts to downplay the situation, denying any motivation stemming from it, Lockyer argues that such a contentious issue would naturally be a topic of conversation within the Maroons camp.
On the Wide World of Sports' QLDER program, Lockyer remarked, "I reckon that would have been addressed at some point in the camp." He added, "Origin motivates you naturally - but as a coach, if you can prod a few players and get them fired up, you do it.
I've got no doubt there would have been a conversation within the group like 'hey boys, let's try and prove a point here and get stuck into him.'"
As Leniu prepares for the match, the NSW team anticipates that he will be targeted by the Maroons players and face a challenging reception from the home crowd.
However, his teammates believe this pressure only enhances his performance.
Connor Watson, a teammate at the Roosters, stated, "He loves it.
Once it's game time he turns into a different beast and gets his game hat on.
Spencer likes that hostile environment."
This escalating narrative sets the stage for a highly charged Game 1 at Suncorp Stadium, as Leniu faces the expectation of being both a key player and a focal point for Queensland's aggression.