Ezra Mam rejects Spencer Leniu bid for face-to-face apology

Ezra Mam has rejected a bid by Spencer Leniu to meet in person at which the Roosters enforcer was to issue a face-to-face apology for racially abusing the Brisbane star.

A furious Ezra Mam has rejected a peace offering from Spencer Leniu as bad blood lingers between the Broncos and Roosters over the NRL racism scandal in Las Vegas.

This masthead can reveal Roosters prop Leniu has offered to fly to Brisbane and meet Mam face-to-face to personally apologise for calling him a “monkey” in his side’s 20-10 defeat of the Broncos at Allegiant Stadium last Sunday.

Leniu fell on his sword on Thursday, pleading guilty to racially vilifying Mam and the Roosters enforcer will learn of his fate when he faces the music at an NRL judiciary hearing this Monday night.

Now it can be revealed the extent to which Leniu has attempted to seek a resolution with Mam as the code confronts the biggest racial-discrimination issue since the Greg Inglis State of Origin racism storm in 2010.

It is understood Leniu made a request in recent days to pay his own way to Brisbane, with his partner in tow, to speak to Mam in person and try to broker a peace.

,Ezra Mam is still seething over the racist comment. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

The Roosters were aware of Leniu’s sentiment and discussed plans to set up a formal meeting. The Broncos were notified of Leniu’s willingness to catch up with the Brisbane playmaker to say sorry for his on-field comment in Vegas.

The Broncos also notified Mam’s mother, an Indigenous elder who has played a key role in the implementation of the Deadly Choices program in Queensland, of Leniu’s olive branch.

But Mam, still privately seething over Leniu’s comment, and subsequent verbal attack on him at the Resorts World team hotel in Vegas, knocked back his rival’s offer to apologise in person.

Mam, a former Indigenous dancer who is passionate about First Nations rights, was prepared to tell his version of events at the NRL judiciary, but will no longer be required following Leniu’s guilty confession.

Leniu insists he is not racist and would eventually wish to resolve the issue with Mam, who is not ready to forgive or forget at this stage.

In 2010, Queensland Origin legend Inglis called for then NSW assistant coach Andrew Johns to be expelled from the game following a racist slur against the Maroons centre during that year’s Origin series.

Spencer Leniu offered to apologise to Mam in person. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Inglis eventually settled his differences with Johns and there is hope that, when the dust settles, Mam will accept a reconciliation meeting with Leniu, who is of Polynesian descent.

Brisbane’s statement, released on Thursday, “acknowledged” Leniu’s actions, but, tellingly, there was no acceptance of apology from Broncos five-eighth Mam.

Mam was back training with the Broncos on the Gold Coast on Friday and Brisbane assistant coach John Cartwright said the club’s playing group were rallying around the 21-year-old.

“He’s had plenty of support,” Cartwright said.

“He’s a great young kid, Ez.

“He’s very popular within the group. He will be fine.”

Cartwright is adamant the racism saga will not derail the progress of Mam, who was on the verge of winning the Clive Churchill Medal last season after his hat-trick in Brisbane’s NRL grand-final loss to Penrith.

“We haven’t got a problem with Ezra,” he said.

“He is a very level-headed young kid. He’s dealt with it the way it had to be dealt with.

“The club’s dealt with it and it’s up to the NRL now.

“As a footballer, the best place to be is with your teammates,

“I love the way they all pulled together and the fact we’re all here together today (is great).

“As a footballer, in good times and bad times you want to be amongst your teammates.”

Next Thursday, Mam will take on a Souths side at Suncorp Stadium featuring Latrell Mitchell, a proud Indigenous icon who has been the Broncos’ rookie’s biggest ally, calling for Leniu to be rubbed out for more than two months.

Cartwright believes the NRL is doing enough to tackle racism in the sport.

“I can’t comment on the Roosters player (Leniu),” said Cartwright, a former assistant coach to Ricky Stuart at the Bondi glamour club.

“I know we get plenty of education around the treatment of indigenous people in society.

“From my perspective, I’m fully aware of being inclusive and how people need to be treated.

“They (Broncos players) have all pulled together as a group,

“They’ve done everything they can do.

“The club has handed a statement down.

“Ezra’s done his part and it’s up to the NRL authorities to look after it now.”