Leniu handed two-match ban after making money gesture to referees

In short:

Samoa's Spencer Leniu has been suspended for two matches after making a money gesture at the referees in his side's loss to Australia in the Rugby League World Cup semifinal.

If Leniu contests the grade three contrary conduct charge and loses his appeal, he will incur an additional one-match suspension.

What's next?

Leniu will miss Parramatta's first two games of the 2027 NRL season, including the team's game in Las Vegas.

Parramatta's marquee off-season recruit Spencer Leniu is poised to miss the first two games of the 2027 campaign — including the Eels' trip to Las Vegas — after being sin-binned in Samoa's World Cup semifinal loss to Australia.

Leniu was sin-binned by referee Adam Gee for dissent late in the first half of Sunday's 44-12 loss to the Kangaroos in Sydney.

The prop made a money gesture with his hand as he walked towards the tunnel, a sign that many interpreted as the Samoan forward questioning the integrity and impartiality of match officials.

Leniu was handed a grade three contrary conduct charge on Monday.

The 26-year-old, who will join Parramatta after winning the 2026 premiership with Sydney Roosters, will miss the club's opening two games of the season, which includes their trip to the US to face Gold Coast.

In the unlikely event he contests the charge, Leniu would incur an additional one-game ban if he were to lose his appeal.

The prop's outburst came during a frustrating night for Samoa, from which Samoan halves Ronald Volkman and Jarome Luai have avoided suspension for dangerous contact.

Samoa were on the wrong end of a 9-4 penalty count and coach Ben Gardiner suggested Gee had handed the Kangaroos several "home-ground calls".

"It was a real home-ground advantage for Australia," Gardiner said.

"They had the music pumping in the background and we had a lot of Samoan fans here to support us, which was brilliant.

"But they got the home-ground calls, got a really good start and then it was just too hard for us to chase back from there."

AAP

The ABC of SPORT

Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.