Some NRL players need to understand that they can’t rely on an anything goes attitude on the playing field like they’re in international waters where laws don’t apply.
When they venture onto the arena, they’re entering a highly competitive, emotional environment but in essence it is also a workplace and part of a society that does not tolerate discrimination.
Rugby league has a problem with an unwritten law being part of its make-up that some players, coaches and commentators think unsavoury acts can be excused by the old “it was in the heat of the battle” argument.
What happens on the field, should stay on the field. Wrong.
And what happened in Vegas, should stay there, if Spencer Leniu is to be believed.
When asked immediately after his debut match for the Roosters against Brisbane specifically about the allegation that he called Indigenous opponent Ezra Mam a monkey, the Samoan international put his foot in the mouth with a seemingly relaxed attitude to such a serious claim.
“Nothing, it’s all just fun and games on the field, that’s it. Not worried at all,” he replied on Triple M.
If nothing of the sort happened, wouldn’t you want to get on the front foot straight away and set the record straight?
In another interview with Nine, he added: “it was just a little bit of banter on the field and whatever he wants to do with it, he can come see me afterwards. If they want to do anything, we’re staying in the same hotel.”
Seriously? A front-rower challenging a much smaller five-eighth to come and settle the score with him afterwards – not what you would call a mature approach.
Leniu then accidentally bumped into the five-eighth and some of his teammates at the hotel a few hours later and the story then gets worse for the front-rower with reports emerging that he blasted Mam for making a formal complaint to referee Adam Gee.
That is exactly what Mam should have done.
Unfortunately, what many other Indigenous players and those of Pacific heritage, like Leniu himself, have done in the past is turn the other cheek and not call out racism because they have had no confidence in anything being done about it.
Mam should be applauded for his actions.
Leniu would do well to read The Big O: The Life and Times of Olsen Filipaina, the story of another league player of Samoan heritage who experienced the sting of racism when he tried to make his mark in the Australian premiership in the 1980s.
A ban as long as two months has been floated as punishment for Leniu if he is found guilty at a judiciary meeting likely to occur next week because the four Vegas teams are now in transit back home and do not play until the following weekend.
One month should be the absolute minimum and if the charge is proven and Leniu continues to show no remorse, then a couple of months would not be too harsh, as long as it is accompanied by meaningful education to ensure he understands the gravity of his alleged actions.
Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya was banned for four matches in 2022 after he used a homophobic slur towards an opponent in a game against the Cowboys.
After that incident, there were the usual excuses made to excuse his behaviour with teammate Josh Curran sticking up for him on social media by typing the cliched line that “it was a heat of a moment thing”.
There was even one former player who somehow remains gainfully employed as a commentator who said when microphones are allowed to listen in on the on-field hurley burley then fans can’t blow up when they hear distasteful comments like Montoya’s slur. Yes, dinosaurs still do walk this earth.
Spencer Leniu in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary on Monday said he was surprised by Leniu being accused of something as deplorable as racially abusing an opponent.
“It’s going through the channels with the NRL now, so everything is being investigated. We’ll see where it leads, but I would say it’s out of character.”
You could see he was answering a question he did not necessarily want to address in his media scrum and if found guilty, Leniu needs to indeed show it was an isolated incident that is out of character by expressing genuine remorse.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson drew the ire of retired dual international Lote Tuqiri for casting doubt over Mam’s claims in the post-game press conference when he said: “(Mam) obviously made the complaint, but that doesn’t mean it’s right … It will go through the formal process, as it should”.
Tuqiri posted on social media that “if a player says he’s been racially vilified on a footy field, it’s happened! You can mask it and say it’s in the heat of the battle, etc etc.
Spencer Leniu exchanges heated words with Kotoni Staggs. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
“But I don’t get how Trent Robinson sits in a post match press conference and accuses Ezra of not being right. ‘Doesn’t mean it’s right’ is some sort of gaslighting rubbish I didn’t think would come out of Trent Robinson’s mouth.
“Especially after the great way he handled Latrell (Mitchell)’s abuse from his own fans last year. I’m behind Ezra all the way calling this stuff out.”
An unfortunate aspect of ugly allegations like this one is that opinion is often divided along club lines until there’s compelling proof to the contrary. Robinson was entitled to stand up for his player but if Leniu’s is found guilty, he then needs to show their club culture is all that it’s cracked up to be by condemning such behaviour and making it clear that it won’t be tolerated.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said it was disappointing that this incident had taken the gloss off the goodwill generated by the Las Vegas double-header in front of more than 40,000 fans at Allegiant Stadium.
He reiterated that there was no place for discrimination of any kind in the game.
The NRL has sent out some mixed messages in recent years when it comes to intolerance, as evidenced by the Manly inclusivity jersey debacle and backing down over plans to hold a pride round.
This could be a chance to show, in a rare moment in the international spotlight, that this sport is as tough on racism as it is to play … in the heat of the battle.
KenW
Roar Rookie
I think I've been misunderstood, I was specifically considering your point of him giving some sort of apology. In no way do I think Leniu's guilt or innocence sways on public opinion, or whether he says something in public or not. Happy for him to say nothing and have his judiciary hearing. He just can't have it both ways and apologise without taking responsibility for the actions.
Tony
Roar Guru
Even the Roar, presumably, although they were ready to roll at a minute's notice on the Leniu matter
matth
Roar Guru
I’d say it’s also caught everyone by surprise.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
What your suggesting is tantamount to holding the judiciary hearing in the court of public opinion, Ken. Not sure that's a good idea at any time, let alone for something as highly charged as this issue clearly is. Leniu has clearly said plenty so probably best to say nothing further till the hearing's finished
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Roosters might have already worked out the Panthers sold them a lemon and are letting him dig a deeper hole. And zip FA from the RLPA ? Newton still on Chrissy holidays?
Tony
Roar Guru
Or perhaps it's only rugby league players that are seen as fair game? Kerr's story is 10 times more newsworthy than Leniu's, on any level.
matth
Roar Guru
Too risky for the Roar to allow comments on a live legal matter maybe?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Who at the Roosters let him get in front of a microphone without thinking about what he should say? What a classic RL screw up
mushi
Roar Guru
80+ comments here but can't comment on Sam Kerr not advising the FA? The defamation angle is redundant but I'm sure there's some reason slightly worse than a GA press conference.
Just call me Campo
Roar Rookie
Therefore, make it 8...or 12...or the season
mushi
Roar Guru
Over to you NRL, look it’s an awkward one. I see arguments as to why it’s worse or mitigated by his own background but the fact remains they’ve all had training that says the degree of offence lies in the realm of the offended not the offender. I’d expect a few weeks (3-4) for this but then the it’s NRL. The hard part is regardless of where they land on the weeks you’ll have a likely group of white guys deciding it which are on a hiding to nothing. If it’s 2 weeks or 8 I hope we can drop it afterwards and players of all ilks realise sledging needs to stay clean.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Not constructive to conversation mate - no need to be facetious.....of course it isn't - but it well get a run by sports jounalists or anyone else who wants to be outraged or show Australian culture as crass and racist.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Not really. If he did it then taking responsibility and giving a genuine apology is always a good step. If he didn't do it, then deny it outright and perhaps empathise with Mam's response to what he thought he heard. He's only 'damned if he does and damned if he doesn't' if he did it but wants to avoid taking responsibility in case there's not enough evidence. I don't have much sympathy for that position.
Josh
Roar Rookie
Ben are you saying that if he is innocent, he should have been OK to be called a racist?, I do not agree, if I was innocent and I was called a racist, I would've belted him. That said I have a gut feeling that Spencer is not innocent. However the East's coach was correct...let the process play out. If guilty come down on him like a tonne of bricks. If innocent Spencer needs to absolutely smash next time they meet.
Josh
Roar Rookie
If he is found innocent, he should ve punched him in the head as he called him an racist....somehow I do not think he will be found innocent.
Josh
Roar Rookie
It would be interesting to compare the response to Leniu by NRL and the response to Kerr by Football Australia....once the dust settles.
mrl
Roar Rookie
I forgot Rugby League is now the most popular sport in the USA.
Full Credit to the Boys
Roar Rookie
It was seriously dumb of Lenui to accept an interview and seriously stupid by the Roosters media managers to let it happen.
Linphoma
Roar Rookie
Always a good strategy. :happy:
Roar GOAT
Roar Rookie
Leniu is (allegedly) at fault here and if determined to be guilty, then deserves to be punished. However, the roosters media manager should never have let him be interviewed after the game. Who on earth benefits from that? Leniu is obviously not a bright spark and every effort should have been made to wheel him up the tunnel and drum some talking points into him before he says something stupid. All that said, maybe it’s better off we saw Lenius true feelings and lack of remorse, to which I’m sure will play into the penalty (if found guilty).