Why Spencer Leniu deserves a $50k fine and three-month suspension for his racial slur against Ezra Mam, writes Peter Badel | Opinion
If Spencer Leniu was truly sorry for his disgraceful racial slur against Ezra Mam, he would have apologised immediately. Now the NRL must throw the book at him, writes Peter Badel.
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Spencer Leniu should be banned for three months and fined $50,000 for his disgraceful racial slur against Ezra Mam.
I personally have doubts that Leniu is truly remorseful for calling Mam a “monkey”, even allowing for the carefully-cultivated media release detailing an apology that would have been surgically vetted by Roosters bosses and, quite possibly, their legal eagles.
If his contrition was real, he would have apologised immediately in the heat of battle, or at least within seconds of Mam leaving the field at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas.
His initial stance at full-time was that racially vilifying Mam was just “fun and games”.
Nothing more to see. No price to be paid. Get over it, Ezra. Play on.
To compound the saga, Leniu, not morally chastened but instead enraged, chose to attack Mam a second time, making a beeline for the Broncos pivot and abusing him in the corridors of the team hotel at which the two sides were staying.
His view, clearly, was that what was said should never have reached the public domain, as if Mam should uphold the anachronistic tenet that what happens on the field should stay on the field.
Are they the actions of a man driven with racial regret?
If his remorse is indeed genuine, why has it taken four days for Leniu to suddenly come to his senses, fall on his sword, and say sorry to the Indigenous playmaker via a finely-manicured press statement?
If Leniu is truly apologetic, then he should cop his whack – and the NRL should whack him harder than ever.
This racial-vilification case is a seminal moment for rugby league.
The NRL judiciary must shun any notion of leniency.
If the NRL is serious about stamping out racism in rugby league, they should hit Leniu with a minimum 12-week ban and set a precedent that rings alarm bells for any player in the code considering boorish slurs in the heat of battle.
Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds was hung out to dry during cricket’s ‘Monkey-gate’ scandal of 2008 and he never truly recovered mentally from the feeling he was let down and abandoned by Cricket Australia.
He could never reconcile his belief that Cricket Australia bosses kowtowed to the financial and political might of India.
Now the NRL confronts its own ‘Monkey-gate’ moment. Their judicial system must not fail Ezra Mam.
BRONCOS RESPOND TO LENIU APOLOGY
– Travis Meyn, Peter Badel
The Broncos have addressed Spencer Leniu’s apology to Ezra Mam after the Roosters prop today pleaded guilty to racially abusing the Brisbane five-eighth.
Leniu will await his fate from NRL hierarchy on a possible fine and suspension after admitting to using a racial slur against Indigenous playmaker Mam in the Roosters-Broncos clash in Las Vegas last Sunday.
Leniu’s actions mean the Broncos will not be required to send Mam to Sydney to be prosecuted, nor will his Brisbane teammates Billy Walters and Payne Haas be required to provide testimonies in support of the Brisbane pivot.
Mam and Broncos coach Kevin Walters were “adamant” Leniu racially vilified the 21-year-old and Brisbane responded to a statement from the Roosters in which the Sydney enforcer apologised to his rival.
“The Brisbane Broncos acknowledge the statement from the Sydney Roosters today addressing an incident involving our player Ezra Mam in last’s weekend’s game,” a Broncos statement said.
“The Broncos acknowledge Spencer’s apology to Ezra and the importance of taking that step. “There is no place for racism in our game or in our society.
“The club respects the NRL Judiciary process that is still to play out and we will make no further comment on that.
“Ezra’s wellbeing has been our primary concern from the start. He has been well-supported within our club and we will continue to focus on that in the time ahead.”
Leniu admitted his guilt but insists he is not racist.
“I want to apologise to Ezra and his family for using the word I did and I am sincerely sorry to cause him such distress,” he said.
“I’ve put my hand up and want to take ownership of this. I said the word but I didn’t mean it in a racist way. Anyone who knows me knows that’s not who I am.”
Roosters CEO Joe Kelly added: “Spencer has been completely open and honest throughout this process, and we will continue to support him.
“We extend our deepest apologies to Ezra, his family and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and offer our support to all parties during this time.
“We respect the Judiciary process.
“Accordingly, the club will not be making any further comment prior to the hearing.”
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