Trent Robinson says the sight of wrecking ball front-rower Spencer Leniu starting against Manly will be a glimpse into the Sydney Roosters' future without Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
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Veteran prop Waerea-Hargreaves will head off for a Super League swansong at the end of 2024 with Leniu in pole position to claim his mantle as the Roosters' chief intimidator.
Across his time at previous club Penrith and with the Roosters, Leniu has developed a reputation as a game-changing interchange option having come off the bench in 86 of his 91 NRL games.
But with Waerea-Hargreaves serving the second match of a four-game ban, Robinson has opted to start Leniu from the get-go in the hope he can lead the charge against Manly on Saturday.
"Spencer came here as a three-time premiership winner, a really good player," Robinson said.
"Our progression for him was to build him into a starting player.
"He was seen as a sort of a 25-minute player and we've started to push out those minutes.
"We see it as a natural progression for him with Jared being out that he's starting and he will continue to do that over the next few years."
Robinson will be hoping Leniu's no-thrills style will help his side get the jump on fifth-placed Manly after expressing concern at how the Roosters were outworked in last week's 24-8 loss to the Storm.
The Roosters, who sat fourth heading into round 21, have a 1-7 record against sides currently in the top eight and their inability to match it with the NRL's heavyweights has triggered questions over their credentials as a premiership threat.
"The speculation is normal but the belief in what we're capable of is there," Robinson said.
"We know what kind of team we are and we'll get there, we'll get to the quality we want and all we can do is nail that tomorrow (Saturday).
"There is hurt there we want to right, and we want to play after last week."
Meanwhile, Robinson revealed strike centre Joey Manu was on track to return against the Dolphins next week.
Robinson has deployed back-rower Sitili Tupouniua in the centres with Manu missing the last fortnight with a hand injury.
"He (Manu) jumped in for a brief period of touch footy so it would be nice to get him cleared for next week," Robinson said.
Australian Associated Press
