The boss of Queensland Rugby League expects Spencer Leniu to be targeted by the Maroons next Wednesday night following his public verbal exchange with “one of the most beloved figures in Queensland”, Johnathan Thurston.

Leniu and Thurston were caught on camera engaging in a heated confrontation following the Sydney Roosters’ clash with the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium last month.

Roosters enforcer Leniu took issue with Thurston over his scathing public criticism of the eight-match ban handed to Leniu for calling Broncos playmaker Ezra Mam a “monkey” in Las Vegas a year earlier. Thurston said Leniu’s outburst on the sideline had been “overly aggressive in tone and unwarranted.”

Now Queensland CEO Ben Ikin says Maroons fans will not have forgotten Leniu’s treatment of a local legend.

Leniu was pulled from a media day by NSWRL officials on Monday, fearing any comments would only fan the flames between Leniu and Thurston, who is a member of Billy Slater’s Maroons’ coaching staff.

“‘JT’ is one of the most beloved figures in Queensland, and I’ve no doubt that everyone who’ll wear the Maroons jersey next Wednesday saw what happened at Suncorp Stadium that night,” Ikin said.

“Will Spencer Leniu be a target? I think so, just not in the way he expects. But then again, I’m not the coach.”

Blues coach Laurie Daley said of Leniu on Monday night: “Spencer’s focus will be on what he needs to do for the team, not on JT or what people are looking to say or do. They can target him all they want, but he’ll handle it. There will be no worries.