‘The game has failed’: Thurston slams the NRL for not banning Spencer Leniu for 12 matches

Spencer Leniu won’t play again until round 10, but one of the greatest Indigenous stars of all time says the Roosters prop got off lightly.

Thurston has whacked the NRL's ban. Pic: Supplied

Johnathan Thurston has slammed the NRL judiciary’s decision to ban Roosters prop Spencer Leniu for eight matches for racially abusing Brisbane’s Ezra Mam, with the Indigenous superstar declaring “the game has failed” to send a strong enough message.

Leniu pleaded guilty to calling Mam a “monkey” during the game in Las Vegas, with the premiership winner suspended for eight matches on Monday night but vehemently denying that the slur was racial in nature.

Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly echoed those sentiments after the hearing on Monday night, with Leniu now having to wait until round 10 to play his second game for his new club.

Spencer Leniu was banned for eight matches on Monday night. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“We accept the suspension of eight weeks, but in relation to the hearing, the club stands behind Spencer and is firmly of the belief that he is not racist,” Kelly said.

“The club remains strong in its position that Spencer did not use the word – the subject of tonight’s hearing – in a racially derogatory way.

“To be clear, the club does not believe that Spencer was putting Ezra down in a racially based way.”

But Thurston was having none of that on Tuesday morning, with the Cowboys, Maroons and Kangaroos legend disappointed that Leniu wasn’t suspended for 12 matches.

“In my mind, definitely not,” Thurston told the Today show when asked if the punishment fits the crime.

“There’s only one way that term is used, and that’s racially.

Leniu’s comments infuriated Broncos players who confronted him at the hotel. Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP

“The NRL had a great opportunity to make a stand – not only for the game but for society as well.

“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 was said and the mental scars that have been brought up and what our culture has endured since colonisation.

“I thought it was a great opportunity to go 12 weeks as a blanket ban for all racial vilification if you’re found guilty.”

Leniu was sincere in his apologies throughout the hearing, although his conduct during and after the Vegas game has come under fire, with Leniu telling Triple M that it was “all fun and games” on the field.

The slur left Mam distraught, with the young five-eighth sending a 12-paragraph statement to the judiciary to explain the emotional toll the past week has had on him and his family.

Ezra Mam told the judiciary that he couldn’t focus on the game after he was abused. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“I understand that he’s owned up to what he said, but at the NRL we have the Indigenous All Stars match, we have the Indigenous round and we have the NRL Indigenous strategy team, so we’re doing and saying all the right things, but I definitely don’t think that the punishment fit the crime,” Thurston said.

“It’s quite emotional talking about it because it’s opened up a lot of scars for our people.

“I know that Spencer has come out and he’s owned it like he has. He’s apologised to Ezra and I understand he wants a face-to-face with Ezra as well.

“I spoke to Ezra after the match to check on him and his well being, but he was pretty shattered about it all.

“I thought this was a great opportunity to make a statement, and I don’t think the eight weeks is sufficient.”

Originally published as ‘The game has failed’: Thurston slams the NRL for not banning Spencer Leniu for 12 matches