Spencer Leniu is expected to leave the Sydney Roosters and head to the Parramatta Eels once this season concludes, and the Roosters have found his replacement.
After initial reports were made by The Mole Leniu was set to make a move from the Roosters to the Eels, new reports from The Daily Telegraph indicate the move will happen, and he will head to Parramatta next season.
Leniu had 12 months on his current contract with the Bondi-based club after this season; however, the Roosters will allow him to leave after he plays in this year's finals campaign.
Cronulla Sharks forward Braden Uele, who remains an unsigned free agent, is set to leave and replace Leniu at the Roosters on a one-year deal, according to DT.
The Roosters have so far only made one signing of a player from another club, convincing Reuben Garrick from the Manly Sea Eagles to sign a two-year deal with the club in the off-season.
Roosters stars Angus Crichton and Mark Nawaqanitawase will head to rugby union.
Meanwhile, Connor Watson was also bought out of his deal with 12 months remaining with the Roosters and will head to the Dragons before joining the inaugural PNG Chiefs roster in 2028, while Daly Cherry-Evans made an unexpected move to sign with Hull FC in the Super League.
Leniu is not the only former Penrith Panthers player joining the Eels next season.
The front-rower will reunite with Jarome Luai, who has agreed to a one-year deal with the club before heading to the PNG Chiefs in 2028, after being bought out of the final 12 months he had remaining with the Wests Tigers.
Dragons backrower Jaydn Su'A will also head to the Eels next season on a three-year deal that ends after the 2029 season.
After the Rabbitohs and Roosters matched up in the final round of the season, Leniu's temper was criticised by fans and experts after giving away a penalty for throwing the ball away, as well as confronting Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi, despite the Roosters receiving a six-again call.
The Roosters forward was taken off the field in the 31st minute and did not return to the match.
Leniu has played in 57 games for the Roosters since joining prior to the 2024 season, and this season, he has played in 20 matches.
He has averaged 82 run metres, 36.7 post-contact metres per game, 15.7 tackles made per game at 93.7% efficiency and made 45 tackle breaks in total this season.
Uele returned in round 23 for the Sharks after being in and out of the lineup in the club's first four matches to start the season.
He has spent the majority of this season playing for the Sharks' feeder cup side, the Newtown Jets, after previously being a consistent forward in the Sharks' first grade pack.
Uele won't be new to the Roosters organisation, as he spent time playing in the club's under-20s during 2013 and 2014 before joining the Cowboys under Paul Green, his NYC coach.
Eels' signings of Leniu, Luai and Su'A indicate the club have been looking for experience in key positions, and given the club's first two seasons under Ryles missing the top eight, next season is crucial for the blue and gold to turn things around.
Sydney Roosters will play the Penrith Panthers in a qualifying match on Sunday afternoon at CommBank Stadium, where the winner will have a week off and host a preliminary final, while the team that loses will play the winner of the Sharks and Cowboys elimination final.
I’m astounded that the Roosters would let Leniu go, and equally astounded that they would buy Uele.
No disrespect to Uele, but he is past his best and not the player he was a few years ago. No longer in Leniu’s class.
Maybe he is the only available forward that the chooks can find.