Jarome Luai has joined teammate Spencer Leniu in calling for structural change to make rugby league fairer for Pasifika players, as the RLPA flags an opportunity to bring more revenue into small nations. Separately, Parramatta chief executive Mike Rush has criticised the NRL's rules for Leniu's two-match ban, saying the location of the World Cup has created an unfair discrepancy in how suspensions are served.
The Toa Samoa leader and serial NRL premiership winner posted on Instagram on Tuesday night that “it's obvious that it's time for change”. He said the numbers did not lie, and he believed the sport could “start to find what we are searching for” with the help of Rugby League Samoa, the NRL and the Rugby League Players Association.
“This isn't about money or equal pay, it's about being respected and being entitled to what the pacific is generating,” Luai wrote.
His comments follow Leniu making a case via social media that “our little nations carried the [RLWC]” and that those running the show were “only using our people to sell games”. Leniu said the Samoa versus Tonga match at the RLWC was the “most hyped-up and anticipated game of the tournament”, and organisers made it a triple-header because they knew “our people turn up in numbers, fill the stadiums and create an atmosphere filled with pride and passion”.
“I've been dragged through mud by white modern day media for years, labelled 'overrated, overpaid, outspoken',” said Luai, the marquee signing for PNG Chiefs, the NRL's 19th team. “Know your worth. Do not conform to the idea of what they think we should be doing or who you should be.”
Leniu accepted a two-game ban for making a money gesture after Adam Gee sin-binned him for dissent in Samoa’s semi-final loss to Australia. The NRL rules mean grade-three charges, such as the one Leniu received, cannot be served in trials.
Parramatta chief executive Mike Rush said it was unfair that the ban will wipe Leniu out of the Eels’ 2027 season opener, pointing to a loophole that allowed Roosters forward Angus Crichton to serve a one-game ban during the 2022 World Cup in England in a pre-season trial, because Crichton was bound by IRL rules which allow suspensions to be served in trials.
“From the club’s point of view, it’s a little frustrating to see that, because the World Cup is in Australia, we can’t use the trial games,” Rush said. “Whereas, had the World Cup been in England, he’d be free to play in round one. It feels a little unfair on both the player and the club that the location of the World Cup dictates how you can serve your suspension.”
Rush also noted Newcastle and New Zealand hooker Phoenix Crossland, suspended for four matches for a hip-drop tackle, used the World Cup to serve his ban, allowing him to play round one for the Knights. “So they are getting a benefit from the World Cup, and we’re being punished,” Rush said. He added that what Leniu did was wrong, but the rules should be standardised.
The International Rugby League told RNZ Pacific ahead of the RLWC that all players would be paid AU$850 per week as a standard match fee, but individual federations could pay their players more depending on their own financial ability.
RLPA chief executive Clint Newton said there was “a tremendous opportunity for us to partner with the NRL on a whole range of different areas to try and again grow exposure, grow revenue, and bring more funds into these nations that are obviously contributing so much”. He said the RLPA was unable to secure a revenue-sharing agreement with the NRL, but would like to work with nations, the NRL and the IRL about the use of nations' IP and player IP, “because this is only just the beginning”.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The calls from Luai and Leniu, two of the sport's most prominent Pacific players, could pressure the NRL and IRL to address disparities in pay and conditions for Pacific nations
- The discrepancy in how suspensions are served depending on the World Cup's location affects clubs and players differently, raising questions about the fairness of current NRL rules
- The RLPA's willingness to partner with the NRL on revenue sharing could reshape how funds flow to smaller rugby league nations, potentially growing the international game
Background
Samoan star Spencer Leniu was handed a two-match ban for a money gesture to a referee during Samoa's World Cup semi-final loss to Australia. Parramatta Eels CEO Mike Rush argues that the ban, which must be served in NRL matches, is unfair because a different rule applied for a similar suspension served in trials during the 2022 World Cup in England. Meanwhile, Luai and Leniu have centred the broader issue of fair treatment for Pacific players. The RLPA has noted the AU$850 per week match fee and said it sees an opportunity to bring more revenue to Pacific nations.
Key Perspectives
Jarome Luai (Toa Samoa captain): “The numbers don't lie. … This isn't about money or equal pay, it's about being respected and being entitled to what the pacific is generating.”
Spencer Leniu (Toa Samoa player): Said “our little nations carried the [RLWC]” and that organisers used “our people to sell games”.
Mike Rush (Parramatta Eels CEO): “[It's] frustrating … had the World Cup been in England, he’d be free to play in round one. … We should have a set of international rules.”
Clint Newton (RLPA chief executive): “There's a tremendous opportunity for us to partner with the NRL … to grow exposure, grow revenue, and bring more funds into these nations.”
What to Watch
- Whether the NRL responds to Rush's critique and reviews the rule that bans grade-three charges from being served in pre-season trials
- Whether the RLPA, NRL, and IRL reach a revenue-sharing agreement that benefits Pacific nations
- How the NRL's 19th team, PNG Chiefs, and the push for fairer Pacific player treatment evolve ahead of the 2028 season
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedJarome Luai and Spencer Leniu are calling for fairer treatment of Pacific players.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Jarome Luai, one of the biggest names in the rugby league world, has made an impassioned plea for structural changes to the sport to make it fairer for Pasifika players and recognise what they bring to the game. The Toa Samoa leader and serial NRL premiership winner has added his voice alongside his Samoan teammate Spencer Leniu, calling for an equal playing field following the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.”
- SupportedA Rugby League World Cup pay debate has reignited.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “League pay debate reignites as Toa Samoa's Spencer Leniu faces ban for money gesture”
- SupportedMike Rush says Leniu’s two-match ban is unfair because the World Cup’s location affects the rules for serving suspensions.The Age - Latest News: ““From the club’s point of view, it’s a little frustrating to see that, because the World Cup is in Australia, we can’t use the trial games,” Rush said. “Whereas, had the World Cup been in England, he’d be free to play in round one. It feels a little unfair on both the player and the club that the location of the World Cup dictates how you can serve your suspension.””
- SupportedLuai has joined Leniu in calling for structural change to make rugby league fairer for Pasifika players.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Jarome Luai, one of the biggest names in the rugby league world, has made an impassioned plea for structural changes to the sport to make it fairer for Pasifika players and recognise what they bring to the game. The Toa Samoa leader and serial NRL premiership winner has added his voice alongside his Samoan teammate Spencer Leniu, calling for an equal playing field following the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.”
- SupportedThe RLPA sees an opportunity to bring more funds into small nations.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) said there was an opportunity to partner with the NRL to bring more funds into small nations.”
- SupportedLuai wrote, “it's obvious that it's time for change”.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “"Reflecting on the campaign, it's obvious that it's time for change," Luai wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday night.”
- SupportedLuai wrote that the issue was not about money or equal pay, but about respect and being entitled to what the Pacific generates.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “"This isn't about money or equal pay, it's about being respected and being Entitled to what the pacific is generating (sic)."”
- SupportedLeniu said “our little nations carried the [RLWC]”.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “His comments follow Leniu also making a case via a social media post , stating that "our little nations carried the [RLWC]"”
- SupportedLeniu called the Samoa-Tonga match the “most hyped-up and anticipated game of the tournament”.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Leniu said the Samoa versus Tonga match at the RLWC was the "most hyped-up and anticipated game of the tournament".”
- SupportedLuai said he had been “dragged through mud by white modern day media for years”, labelled “overrated, overpaid, outspoken”.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “"I've been dragged through mud by white modern day media for years, labelled 'overrated, overpaid, outspoken'," the marquee signing for PNG Chiefs, the NRL's 19th team, said.”
- SupportedLeniu accepted a two-game ban after making a money gesture, and grade-three charges cannot be served in trials under NRL rules.The Age - Latest News: “Leniu has accepted a two-game ban for making a money gesture, which was interpreted as questioning the integrity of the referees, after Adam Gee sin-binned him for dissent in Samoa’s semi-final loss to Australia. Under NRL rules, grade-three charges - such as the one Leniu received - can’t be served in trials.”
- SupportedThe IRL told RNZ Pacific that all players would receive AU$850 per week as a standard match fee, with federations able to pay more.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “The IRL told RNZ Pacific ahead of the RLWC that all players would be paid AU$850 per week as a standard match fee, but individual federations could pay their players more depending on their own financial ability.”