Spencer Leniu clashes with Johnathan Thurston after Sydney Roosters beat Brisbane Broncos 26-16

The Roosters’ boilover of the Broncos has ended in drama, with Spencer Leniu allegedly involved in a confrontation with Queensland Origin legend Johnathan Thurston.

Spencer Leniu is embroiled in another drama after sensationally clashing with NRL legend Johnathan Thurston in a fiery aftermath to the Roosters’ 26-16 defeat of the Broncos.

Sydney’s epic win was marred by Leniu allegedly calling Thurston a “f***wit” in the latest fallout to the Ezra Mam racism scandal involving the Roosters prop last year in Las Vegas.

Looking visibly upset, Thurston later lodged a complaint with Trent Robinson, having a robust discussion with the Roosters coach in the bowels of Suncorp Stadium as skipper James Tedesco watched on.

Thurston confirmed the verbal abuse, telling Channel 9 staff he was called a “f***wit” by Leniu.

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Spencer Leniu confronted Johnathan Thurston after the defeat of the Broncos.

Leniu was hit with a two-month suspension after he called Broncos pivot Ezra Mam a “monkey” as a racial firestorm erupted in the Las Vegas opener at Allegiant Stadium in 2024.

In his first game against the Broncos since that Mam racial slur, Leniu has found drama again by unloading on Thurston.

Thurston is a proud Indigenous role model and threw his support behind Mam during the Leniu racism saga.

As he came from the field in the final 20 minutes on Friday night, Leniu turned to Thurston, who was commentating for Channel 9, and called him a “f***wit”.

When the full-time siren sounded, the pair clashed again. Broncos pivot Ben Hunt, walking off the field, was stunned by Leniu’s outburst and moved to separate the Roosters prop from Thurston, who said: “What’s your problem”.

Queensland Origin great Thurston was so rattled by the clash that he refused to enter the Roosters sheds, with fellow Channel 9 cohort Cam Smith sent in to conduct post-match interviews.

Thurston waited in the Suncorp corridor for almost an hour after full-time. When Robinson emerged from the dressing room, Thurston expressed his disappointment with the Roosters coach, who defended the Roosters prop.

“They just had a discussion on the sideline, I don’t think the details are really clear yet,” he said.

“But it’s just two passionate guys having a conversation about a difference of opinion I think.

“Someone speaking their opinion I think is good in this game.”

Asked if the Mam racism saga was motivation for Leniu in his return against the Broncos, Robinson said: “Not that I know of.

“It wasn’t mentioned at all.

“I thought he was outstanding, he played with the intensity and the control that he needed. I thought he was great there. People will always have differences of opinion and you can voice that.

“It’s OK to say I don’t agree with you on both ends.”

Robinson then took aim at the media, accusing reporters of targeting Leniu for his attack on Thurston.

Johnathan Thurston was a vocal critic of Leniu over the racism scandal. Picture: NRL Imagery

“I don’t know why … Spencer didn’t go and approach anybody, so I don’t know why you guys (media) are trying to put it on Spencer here,” he said.

“You guys are trying to put it on Spencer here, this is the way the questions are coming.

“You guys just have to be careful with the way you guys are asking questions as well.

“There’s no harm done on either side. People won’t always agree but that’s life. As long as people don’t cross the line or say the wrong thing.

“There is a discussion there, but from what I saw there wasn’t any crossing the line there.

“It’s a discussion between two men, I don’t think that’s the end of the world.

“Just cool your jets when it comes to accusations around somebody.

“The way you guys are questioning there, you have already formed an opinion.

“It might get heated, but nothing wrong was said as far as I know.

“It was an incident and that’s OK for guys to have that conversation.

It is understood Leniu hasn’t forgotten Thurston leaping to the defence of Mam, also a proud Indigenous player, in the wake of the Las Vegas firestorm.

In a Channel 9 podcast at the time, Thurston slammed Leniu and accused the NRL of failing to protect Mam.

Thurston was a vocal critic of Leniu only receiving an eight-match ban for his racial slur against Mam last year.

“The NRL had a great opportunity there to make a stand, not only for the game but for society as well,” Thurston said at the time.

“I think sports people are held to a higher standard than the rest of the community. But I think the game has failed in this instance.

“I don’t think the eight weeks is sufficient for what has been said and for the mental scars that have been brought up. And what our culture has endured over the history, since colonisation.

“I thought it was a great opportunity to go 12 weeks (and a) blanket ban for all racial verification if you are found guilty.”

ROOSTERS GET REVENGE IN STUNNING BRONCOS UPSET

Terrific James Tedesco tore the B-grade Broncos apart as the Roosters avenged their round 1 horror show with an epic 26-16 boilover of Brisbane on Friday night.

The Roosters’ Suncorp success continued with two-try Billy Smith and Tedesco giving the Chooks their fifth straight win over the Broncos at the home of Queensland rugby league.

It was a listless display by the Broncos, who struggled to flex their muscle in midfield, their three-match winning streak snapped by a pumped-up Roosters outfit before 40,814.

Stung by their 50-14 debacle in the season opener, the Roosters out-enthused the Broncos, with Tedesco, Smith and livewire Connor Watson too slick and quick for a flat Brisbane.

“We didn’t turn up physical enough. They were hungrier,” Broncos coach Michael Maguire said.

Billy Smith. Picture: NRL Imagery

TOWERING TEDDY

The Roosters are in a transitional phase but the one soothing constant is Tedesco. What a player. What a champion.

Broncos fullback rival Reece Walsh scored a try and threw a crisp ball for Jesse Arthars’ 50th-minute try but he was outpointed by the relentless Tedesco.

The Roosters custodian was a constant menace, amassing 202 metres, 10 tackle busts, 19 runs and a try assist in an inspirational skipper’s knock.

“We missed the mark round 1, we have been up to our eyeballs and we nailed it,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.

“There is a real spirit in this team and you could see it at the start.”

James Tedesco proved too hard to handle for the Broncos. Picture: NRL Imagery

SLEEPY BRONCOS

On match eve, Maguire warned this could be their toughest game so far this season. He was right.

The Broncos were a shadow of the team that flogged the Roosters in round 1. Their offence lacked rhythm, their ball control was mediocre and they were soundly beaten in midfield by a Roosters team that played with superior hunger, menace and line speed.

Broncos enforcers Payne Haas (139m) and Pat Carrigan (117m) were well contained as Nat Butcher (162m) and Naufahu Whyte (106m) stepped up in midfield.

“We went a bit sideways and put too much pressure on ourselves,” Maguire. “We missed the mark, I know we have more in us.”

SIN BIN CIRCUS

The NRL’s sin bin crackdown has become a farce.

In a chaotic first half, two players, Billy Smith and Jack Gosiewski, were placed on report and sin-binned and a third, Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs, was also booked as referee Peter Gough struggled to keep a lid on proceedings.

Billy Smith was sin binned early in the first half. Picture: NRL Imagery

Summing up the madness, Gosiewski was retrospectively sent to the sin bin for foul play, yet despite the Broncos back-rower heading to the sheds, the Roosters weren’t awarded a penalty.

Even the players looked confused, sparking spotfires of spite as bemused Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds tried to seek answers from Gough.

And Jack Gosiewski was binned right after Smith returned. Picture: NRL Imagery

BILLY ON THE BOIL

Smith has endured years of injury hell but in his second game back after an 18-month lay-off, the luckless Roosters centre rammed home his natural ability.

Both Smith’s first-half tries were an awesome exhibition of raw talent.

There was his soaring 14th-minute leap to outjump Reece Walsh for the Roosters’ opening try, but Smith had more magic up his sleeve,

His chase and 35th-minute retrieval of a Tedesco grubber, touching down inches from the dead-ball line, was a split-second act of brilliance that fired the Roosters to a 20-12 halftime lead.

“Billy set the tone with the high catch and to have the skill to put that ball down was impressive,” Robinson said.

SIXES AND SEVENS

Talk about masters and apprentices. On the ledger of experience, this was a scrumbase mismatch. Broncos halves Ben Hunt and Reynolds had played 593 more NRL games than Sandon Smith and Hugo Savala, but the Roosters’ forwards at least gave their scrumbase greenhorns the latitude to compete.

Hugo Savala impressed in his first game at halfback for the Roosters. Picture: NRL Imagery

Smith largely had a night to forget. Aside from an early try assist, he was guilty of three errors and gave away a crucial penalty which led to Arthars’ try in the 50th minute.

Savala’s option-taking was sound and his defensive heart – at one point hammering Broncos monster Haas – personified Sydney’s passion.