Spencer Leniu has broken his self-imposed media ban, reaffirming his commitment to the Sydney Roosters and insisting he should not be selected for the State of Origin series opener.
Partly inspired by Latrell Mitchell's decision to end his own media hiatus, Leniu shook off his nerves and fronted the press for the first time in more than a year at Magic Round.
"Public speaking in general, I'm not the biggest fan of," the prop said on Friday.
"I'll take any back fence carry (rather) than speaking to people in public. But it's part of our duty, we've just got to do it."
It hurt Leniu to read recent media speculation linking him with an early exit from the Roosters amid form concerns and a lack of game time.
Leniu has averaged only 27 minutes since recovering from his hamstring injury in April and run for more than 80 metres only once in five appearances.
The 25-year-old has had "some honest conversations" with Robinson over his form at the Roosters, which has not hit the heights of his three-time premiership-winning days with Penrith.
But Leniu claimed reports had been wide of the mark in suggesting he would leave the Roosters before his contract expired at the end of 2027.
"When people test my integrity and my loyalty to this club, it sort of makes me a bit angry, to be honest," Leniu said.
"I hold myself to high standards in terms of integrity and loyalty. To all the Roosters fans, I'm here to stay. We've got a good thing going."
Leniu conceded he needed to improve his form if he wanted to boost his minutes during his third campaign with the Tri-colours.
The front-rower believes he's on the right track ahead of Saturday's clash with North Queensland, having run for a season-high 120 metres against Gold Coast last week.
"To be honest, I just haven't been performing at my best. That's probably the reason why I haven't been getting the minutes that I've been wanting," he said.
"At the end of the day, I've just got to perform better and I felt like last week was a good step in the right direction."
But Leniu says recent improvements should not be enough to secure him a spot on NSW's game-one team sheet come Monday morning.
"I don't think I should be in any conversations, making that Blues team," said Leniu.
"Just Origin alone, I just respect the game so much. I feel like we need to pick our side on form and I think, like I said, my performances haven't been up to scratch. All I want to see is NSW succeed.
"I don't think I'm in any contention to make that side."
Leniu has played the last six consecutive Origin games but was hopeful club teammate Victor Radley and ex-Roosters prop Terrell May would be chosen for game one instead.
Changes to Origin eligibility rules have opened the door for English international Radley to make his debut, while uncapped May is capable of big minutes in the absence of the injured Payne Haas.
"If anything I hope 'Rads' gets a call. I just know Radley epitomises everything they say Origin is about," Leniu said.
"Hopefully Terrell gets a call too."
Leniu expected a hostile reception from the Queensland locals at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
His media silence had been triggered by a highly-publicised confrontation with Maroons and Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston at the same venue last April.
Leniu said jeering from Cowboys fans was all part of the game.
"I'm just obsessed with this game: the good, the bad, the boos and the cheers," he said.
"They all give me confidence and rile me up."
