Roosters prop Spencer Leniu has been banned for eight matches after the NRL judiciary handed down its verdict on Monday night for racially abusing Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam.
His lengthy suspension means he will be unavailable until Round 10 when the Roosters host the Warriors on May 12 and he avoids taking on the Broncos in what will surely be a spicy rematch the previous week in Brisbane.
The former premiership-winning Panthers forward appeared at Rugby League Central with Roosters officials after pleading guilty to the charge from the controversial incident in the 68th minute of their Las Vegas win over the Broncos.
NRL legal counsel Lachlan Gyles called on the judiciary to suspend Leniu for eight matches while the prop’s representative, James McLeod, argued that a four-match ban would be sufficient because “there was no racial intent”.
“That puts it in the medium category of contrary conduct,” McLeod said. “He was genuine, he was honest in his very poor use of a word but not one that was made on racial intent.
Spencer Leniu in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
“He made a really bad mistake, one that has caused pain and hurt, but it wasn’t motivated by race.”
Leniu initially tried to play down the incident when he called Indigenous star Mam a “monkey” during the NRL’s season-opening double-header in the US.
He then issued an apology after returning to Australia but it was not enough to prevent him becoming the first player banned by the NRL for a racial slur in 19 years.
The panel was headed by judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew at the NRL’s Moore Park headquarters with former international Bob Lindner and ex-referee Sean Hampstead the other members.
Leniu claimed at the hearing that he was unaware of racial connotations for the term monkey.
“At the time I thought it was one brown man saying something to another brown man. The use of words is so common.
“I was making a tackle on Payne Haas. Ezra Mam said something to me at the time and that’s when I said ‘fuck up, monkey’. I am so sorry that I used that word I said that to Ezra and that I made him feel little. This game happens so fast and in that split second I said a word I didn’t know the meaning to,” he said.
“I didn’t know how much that word means to the Indigenous community, Ezra and his family. When I had that interview post-match, honestly, in that time, I didn’t think I did anything wrong and that’s why I said ‘it was all fun and games’.
Spencer Leniu exchanges heated words with Kotoni Staggs. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
“At that time, I just thought it was one grown man sledging another grown man. Just how we use that language towards one another, with all the people in my circle, all that stuff is so common.
“I didn’t know how much that word meant to Ezra and to all the Indigenous people in the game.
“I strongly believe there is no room for racism in this game and I’m happy he brought it up. I had no racial intent toward Ezra and especially toward the Indigenous community. I love his people and I love what they stand for.
“I really am sorry to Ezra and his people. I can’t believe I used that word but i really didn’t mean it.”
Gyles asked Leniu if he was aware of incidents such as those involving Adam Goodes at the Sydney Swans, or other racial incidents involving references to monkeys or apes.
When Leniu said he was not, Gyles suggested to Leniu that “most people who have been in Australia for 15 years would know it would ordinarily be racism to call someone a monkey”.
“It is beyond argument that in Australia in 2024, calling an Indigenous person a monkey does constitute racial abuse, and racial abuse of a very serious nature,” Gyles said.
Roosters CEO Joe Kelly said after the hearing all players and staff would be put through an education program, while his NRL counterpart praised the response of Mam.
Andrew Abdo. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
“I have spoken to Ezra to commend him for speaking up and taking a stand,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said. “It has been warming to see the game rally around him during this time.
“I also acknowledge Spencer Leniu’s genuine remorse and apology and ask everyone to consider his wellbeing after a testing time in his young career. We are human beings and we make mistakes. That is how we all learn and grow.”
Mam was not required to attend the hearing, with pre-written statements instead submitted to help the NRL determine a ban for the Sydney Roosters recruit.
Gyles read out an excert from the 12-paragraph Mam statemen but said the Broncos young gun had asked for eight paragraphs to remain confidential due to the sensitive nature of their contents.
“On about the 68th minute of the game Spencer Leniu tackled Payne Haas. I saw Spencer Leniu at marker and I recall saying the words to the effect of ‘run it back at Spencer’ as Payne was playing the ball.
“I then recall Spencer Leniu saying the words ‘fuck up, you monkey. At this point I was so angry and saw red after that… my mind was no longer focused on the game.”
There had been a thought last week that Mam and other Brisbane players could also attend either in person or virtually, if the league needed their accounts of what was said at Allegiant Stadium.
But Leniu’s plea has meant that was not required.
Broncos teammates Payne Haas and Billy Walters also submitted statements.
The panel took into account Leniu’s guilty plea when considering the ban, which reduces punishments by 25 per cent.
Leniu issued a public apology to Mam last week but the Brisbane playmaker rejected his offer of a face-to-face meeting so the Samoan international could further express his remorse.
The NRL’s judiciary has not dealt with a racism scandal in the past decade, with Paul Gallen the last player found guilty of such an act on the field.
He was fined $10,000 in 2009, and he issued a public apology and stood down as Cronulla captain.
Before him, Bryan Fletcher was suspended for one match in 2005 for a racial slur, for which he also apologised and stood down as South Sydney captain.
More recently, Tyrone Peachey accused Mitchell Barnett of a racial slur in 2020, but the NRL’s integrity unit could not uncover conclusive evidence of the comment when reviewing audio and vision of the game.
The judiciary did hand down a four-match ban for a homophobic comment made by Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya in 2022, in the only comparable offence of recent times.
In the AFL, Adelaide forward Taylor Walker was banned for six matches for a racial slur in 2021.
However, that incident did not relate to a match the Crows star was playing in, but rather as he watched an SANFL game in Adelaide.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
homophobic? Because he has a different viewpoint? You are parroting empty anxieties, he hardly put $h1t on others. I thought you had more substance TB.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hang on… I didn’t say there were no grey areas in the whole gamut of racism. I said there weren’t too many grey areas in calling an aboriginal person a monkey or ‘n…’ just because there are a couple of examples where people have accepted friends using those terms I stand by it. Just because you know one indigenous person who allowed only his closest friends to call him ‘n…’ means there’s any grey area in calling aboriginal people that. I know you wouldn’t in a million years, but try calling an aboriginal person that or monkey and see how grey it is. It’s not a grey area, despite Mundine or Olakau’atu saying they’re ok with it Not copping out but I don’t know a lot about the Sam Kerr situation, but it does seem a lot different to the Leniu / Mam incident The can a black man racially vilify a black man is an interesting question. I note that Leniu and Olakau’atu have said they get called ‘coconuts’. It raises some interesting questions Just because they’ve been called that doesn’t mean it’s ok to then call an aboriginal person a monkey. I get that’s not quite the context, but it’s not a million miles from Leniu’s defence Should it just be open slather that you can call anyone of any race any name you like? I highly doubt that’s your position… or the opinion of many people So assuming we agree on that. What’s the point where calling people ray.cist names become ok? Anyway, I appreciate we’ve had different opinions and been able to discuss it without getting childish or rude… it’s been much more interesting and insightful than most of the tripe here…
Cam
Roar Rookie
I appreciate you don't see any grey areas, but clearly to many others it is not so obvious. Spencer didn't believe it was racial and said as much publicly and in his written statement. He received public support from Haumole Olakau'atu and Anthony Mundine, who knows his way around a racial slur or two. Mam obviously thought the comment was racially motivated (as did I) and he received public support from Latrell Mitchell and Jonathon Thurston. Plenty on here are equally divided as to whether a black man can racially vilify another black man. Many who support Sam Kerr are quoting the definition of racism as "‘Racism is when an individual or organisation with race-based societal power discriminates, excludes, or disadvantages a racially based person because of their race, colour, descent, nationality, ethnicity, religion, or immigrant status". They argue that Kerr doesn't possess "race-based societal power" over a white copper and as such, can't possibly be charged with a racial slur. If that stands up in court, by the letter of the law, Leniu falls in the same category and by definition, can't be guilty of racial vilification of Mam.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That’s so out of context as to be ridiculous But yeah, the timing is important. Do you not see any difference between: a) someone immediately apologising, taking ownership and showing remorse without excuses and b) someone coming up with excuse after excuse, pleading ignorance, blaming other people and then finally offering to offer an apology when they’re backed into a corner You’d treat those two things exactly the same would you? Hahaha :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Great comment
The Barry
Roar Guru
Folau’s an ordinary example to use to make your point… Did anyone bag Folau’s Christianity until he used it as an excuse to be homophonic and put sh.t on other people? Why do so many people defend the perpetrators?
Albo
Roar Rookie
Its amazing just how much you know about the issue and all of Leniu's intentions to disrespect the game? You just provided the perfect example as to why I suggested he was already convicted before he left the field in Vegas.
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
That same legislation considers effect. When you form a majority, what exactly is your psychological harm? It’s not the same!
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
He did.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Really??.. Nobody in the game has blasphemed? Nobody has cursed God or mocked a Christian? Love to hear Folau's take on that one....
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Hmmm, while I mentioned 5 you think I only care about one..... Assumptions
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Actually because those two are not prevalent in the game. You made assumptions.
MGM
Roar Rookie
Spot on TB ! .... Pickett , you ask HTF would I/we know ? . That's been answered here by others rather gently and adequately. ... But I'm left wondering how long you've been on this earth . Can't you tell BS when you see it ? ... Can't you smell it ? .... Sure , there are some very "cunning and aware" tricksters out there that still manage to dupe some of us sometimes but Spencer Leniu falls miles outside that category . .... He was more concerned with making excuses and Patting Himself On The Back - "at least I'm puttng my hand up and taking ownership"! WHEN ? .. Can't you smell that ?? . You say 8 weeks is "ludicrous" . If the racial comment was the only disrepect Leniu was guilty of then I wouldn't bother responding to you , but the disrespect he has shown afterwards to everyone with his interviews, his seeking out Mam at the hotel so that he could abuse him further for "not leaving it on the field" (and then at his hearing saying that 'I'm glad Ezra has raised the matter" .... Oh that smell again) , and then his p!ssweak apology , has brought our game into more disrepute than any one onfield racial slur could ever do. . You're right about one thing though Pickett ... 8 weeks is ludicrous. . It should have been much more.
MGM
Roar Rookie
And you can bet your left testicle that all teams do have those compulsory programs already in place .... don't be mislead by Joe Lying His Face Off Kelly !
MGM
Roar Rookie
No no Gordo , not the NRL . .... the Roosters and the (lying his face off) CEO Joe Kelly are the ones exposed here for their complete lack of "fair dinkum"! And they are the ones that failed miserably to manage this situation and protect their player . It became their responsibility to manage this from the 69th minute of the game because the fool they failed to protect (from the media and himself) had NO Idea !!
MGM
Roar Rookie
Convicted before he left the field Albo ? Either you haven't been following this, or you don't think about what you say before you say it. Leniu's disrespect for the game that provides him with the money and lifestyle that an uneducated, ignorant fool like him could NEVER attain elsewhere only started with his racial slur. He then went on to show the world that was now watching exactly how unaware he is of his good fortune by doing interviews that put his ignorance and absolute lack of respect (for everyone) on full display. Then, back at the hotel, he went looking for his "victim" so that he could abuse him some more..... even after so many around him had warned him about the gravity of his situation and the importance of not making it any worse. Then came his most inadequate, insincere "apology" that only added to the mounting evidence of just how ignorant the fool really is ! (The irony is that by this point even monkeys have been seen to have more wisdom and intelligence than this meathead and his advisors) AND , Albo , none of this so far can be blamed on the public & media venting . It's ALL ON HIM .
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
No mate, I'm not a perfect person, but i am also not a hyporcrite on this. The issue in this case was a person having so little respect for a fellow human that he uses a racial slur to try provoke him. Or if you want to believe Leniu with his 4th or fifth excuse (whatever we were up to), we have someone who is so ignorant, that they probably shouldn't be using the english language as a way to communicate.. You are trying to compare name calling to racial slurs. If you don't understand the fundamental difference between name calling - like calling someone a "pussy" (as you referenced) which is mean or rude or whatever you want to call it, with calling someone by a name which has been used for centuries to bring down all people of a particular background, going back to times when these people were treated like second class citizens, and before that, not even citizens, then seriously.... I can't help you and worry for your ability to understand the fundamental reason why racism is so painful and debilitating in this world, and makes you part of the reason why it will continue to exist.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Dutski, you seem like a nice guy, it's an easy walk across Botany Road to the Promised Land of Red and Green
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Can confirm
Robbo
Roar Rookie
As in....maybe Spencer said "Ezra - you are a cheeky monkey" ?