Nathan Cleary and more of Australia’s biggest footy stars celebrate their former teammate Spencer Leniu’s stunning wedding
First it was Stephen Crichton, now former Penrith Panther Spencer Leniu has tied the knot in the NRL off-season with an all-star cast including Nathan Cleary and some of the biggest names in the game.
Crichton’s wedding was one of the biggest parties NRL fans have ever seen and Leniu’s was just as big as he married his long-term partner Alexia.
It was also a Penrith Panthers reunion, with current and former players uniting to celebrate the nuptials – including Cleary.
The Panthers playmaker had missed Leniu’s bucks party to be with family and his beau Mary Fowler, but made sure he was available for the big day.
Fowler is back in Australia to spend time with Cleary, but her Manchester City commitments mean she was unavailable for Leniu’s wedding.
Leniu was a groomsman for Crichton on his big day, and was in the wedding party for former teammate Brian To’o’s marriage as well.
Spencer Leniu has married the love of his life, pictured cutting the cake with Alexia Loizou
The wedding also doubled as a Penrith Panthers reunion, including this pic posted by Nathan Cleary at the reception
Now it was his turn for a spin around the dance floor, with all of the magic moments captured by Crichton’s wife Leonee.
‘Forever is just a moment, but a moment with you feels like forever,’ the couple said on a social media post of their first dance.
And when it was time for the party to get started, To’o and another guest hoisted Leniu onto their shoulders to really get the mood right.
‘Celebrating Mr & Mrs Leniu,’ Cleary posted, along with several current and former Panthers players including Wests Tigers-bound Jarome Luai.
‘So cute. Congrats Spencer Leniu and Alexia,’ Parramatta superstar Mitch Moses posted.
Leniu originally made his NRL debut with the Panthers in 2019, playing 83 games for the club including three straight premierships.
He joined the Sydney Roosters for the 2024 season, but endured a tough start after he was suspended for eight weeks for an alleged racial slur against Ezra Mam in the NRL season opener.
He has also played seven Tests for Samoa and has three State of Origin appearances for the New South Wales Blues to his name.
A large crowd including plenty of NRL stars were on hand to watch their nuptials
His wedding was another opportunity for the Penrith ‘brotherhood’ of Leniu, Crichton, To’o and Luai to get together.
The premiership winners have all been split up now, with Luai at the Tigers, Crichton moving to the Bulldogs and Leniu at the Roosters.
Earlier this year Leniu spoke about how a pre-Christmas dinner at Luai’s house in 2023 had affirmed their brotherhood, even if they were at opposing clubs.
‘We decided to have dinner at ‘Romy’s’ who has the big house, because he has the biggest contract, and I remember how we looked at each other and were like, ‘no matter what path we take, we’ll always be family’,’ Leniu said.
‘We’ve gone through the highest of highs and lowest of lows. That creates a brotherhood
