Leniu’s Panthers exit “as good as done” as Bulldogs edge out slow-poke Dragons

The Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs have beaten several rival suitors including the St George Illawarra Dragons to one of the hottest free agent props, Spencer Leniu, as he prepares for his Penrith Panthers swan song.

Leniu, 22, is off-contract at the end of the 2023 NRL season and is expected to leave the Panthers due to a squeeze salary cap at the reigning champions.

While many considered the Dragons the frontrunners for the rising young prop’s valuable signature, Red V powerbrokers dragged their feet over official negotiations too much and it seems Gus Gould and the Bulldogs have swooped.

While nothing has been drawn up in ink just yet, The Sporting Base understands the Canterbury club has basically tied everything up. There’s similar mail coming out of The Western Weekender too, with trusted Panthers insider Peter Lang suggesting the 22-year-old’s move to Belmore is “as good as done.”

It’s a harsh twist for the Dragons but a big victory for the Doggies.

Leniu would be the latest Penrith star to make the move to the rebuilding Canterbury Bankstown outfit after Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau, Stephen Crichton, and even new coach Cameron Ciraldo.

The off-contract prop has mainly been used as a bench strike weapon by the Panthers so far in his 62-game career. He hit a highwater mark in the 2022 NRL season as the Panthers charged to a second title in as many years. He originally joined the first grade fold at the western club in 2019 after making his debut against the Sharks.

Leniu played six games for Samoan in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup just last year.

If he were to join the Bulldogs, it’s expected he would be tied up on a long-term contract. A similar deal was to be offered by the Dragons, stretching as far as 2027 with options boiled in too. Download Our Free NRL App

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