Spencer Leniu has called out the pay disparity between Kangaroos players and the rest of the nations, declaring “our little nations carried” the World Cup after Samoa and Tonga bowed out of the tournament.
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Tonga and Samoa were ultimately outclassed by New Zealand and Australia but provided arguably the best game of the tournament as they broke the all-time CommBank Stadium attendance record in the group stages.
Mate Ma’a won that game 20-18 in a gripping contest, while both Tonga and Samoa captivated rugby league audiences across the tournament with the stirring renditions of their anthems and pre-game war dances.
Leniu, of course, made headlines for all the wrong reasons on Sunday as he was sin-binned and later whacked with a two-game ban after mouthing off to referee Adam Gee in the semi-final loss to the Kangaroos.
But the Samoa enforcer challenged his critics to “roast me about playing s***” in an Instagram post where he urged the staggering difference in World Cup remuneration to be rectified.
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“I’ve done everything this game has to offer, and one thing I want to make sure of moving forward is that the younger generation who choose to represent their beautiful little nations get what they deserve,” Leniu wrote.
“Let’s be honest, our little nations carried this WC. Yet we are payed (sic) 850 a game to the Aussies 30/40k for the tournament.
“Theres no secret that they’ve used our people to sell games. Look no further than Samoa Vs Tonga. Arguably the most Hyped up and anticipated game of the tournament.
“They make it a triple header because Our people turn up in numbers, fill the stadiums and create an atmosphere filled with pride and passion.
“Us Polynesians/Kiwi boys will always put their hands up to represent their nations. It’s in our blood. It’s our pride, our culture. But that passion shouldn’t be an excuse to overlook what we contribute and what we deserve.
“Taking the next WC to the US, specifically Utah and Hawaii, where there is a big Polynesian community shows the importance of our people in growing our game. So I believe if they are going to use that as a tool to generate money, our little nations should be compensated fairly for it.
“I’ll use my voice and platform to push for change, because the next gen deserve it.
“If that means putting head on the chopping block, then so be it.
“This is bigger than me!
“Big love.
Yes come and roast me about playing s***, I love it.”
Johnson goes in on semi final officials | 00:32
Leniu is not the only player to have addressed pay equality at this year’s World Cup, with Dolphins veteran and Tonga representative Felise Kaufusi also lending his voice to the fight.
“It is a tough one because it is international footy but that is definitely something I will address,” Kaufusi told Australian Associated Press.
“I want more equality in the prize money. It is something we will raise in the next CBA.
“Australia is always going to get first preference, which is fine, but we need to get to a stage where it is a lot more even.
“It may not be the same, but it should be somewhere thereabouts.”
Kangaroos players receive $40,000 for playing in the tournament as part of a deal that was previously agreed to as part of the collective bargaining agreement between the Rugby League Players Association and Australian Rugby League Commission.
Players from other nations, however, get just $850 per game with a maximum flat fee of $4,250 for the entire tournament according to AAP.
That is because the majority of the governing bodies from the other nations are struggling financially, which makes it hard for them to increase payments.