On the back of securing the services of Newcastle winger Dominic Young for next year, the Roosters are finalising a deal to get Leniu to the club in 2024. The Bulldogs had shown interest but pulled out of the race.

While the Panthers wanted to keep Leniu, who is a local junior, the club’s success has put a strain on their salary cap position.

Leniu is one of the most destructive forwards in the NRL but is currently coming off the bench behind Kiwi international props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

While the Panthers have a high opinion of Leniu, a large chunk of their salary cap is already tied up on the two props they have starting each week.

While Leniu indicated his preference was to remain at Penrith, the Panthers couldn’t table an offer that reflects his value on the open market, nor could they guarantee him a position in the starting side.

Leniu would slot straight into the starting team of most clubs in the NRL, but Penrith have arguably the best front-row combination in the competition.

While the club is disappointed to lose Leniu, they are privately pleased the junior pathways system at the club is continually producing regular first-graders.

The Panthers have lost several big name premiership-winners over the past two years, including Api Koroisau, Viliame Kikau, Charlie Staines, Matt Burton and Kurt Capewell.

“Spencer has been there (Penrith) pretty much all of his life, playing with Minchinbury Jets all the way through, so he found it really hard to consider moving initially,” Leniu’s manager Joe Nakat said.