Rugby league is a game built on intense passion and can’t look away hatred

Rugby league is thriving like never before because it’s a sport where you don’t know when or where the next twist will come from, writes David Riccio.

Spencer Leniu could’ve chosen a better location than Suncorp Stadium to front NRL legend Johnathan Thurston.

Huh? The fact that the 24-year-old didn’t take Thurston out for a cup of tea to explain how aggrieved he felt would make rugby league a better game than what it was Friday?

Please.

NRL bosses will shake their heads at the latest drama. The reality is, they should take the day off on Monday.

This game sells itself.

(L-R) Spencer Leniu and Christian Tuipulotu.

Everything that Leniu did is just another reason why rugby league is thriving like never before. It’s a sport where you don’t know when or where the next twist will come from.

Sponsors of rival codes are costing themselves mass exposure by not being part of a 24/7 news cycle that is generated from the drama of rugby league.

It’s edge of your seat entertainment that rival codes would crave.

You can ridicule Leniu’s behaviour all you like. I admit, he does a great job of playing the villain.

But don’t sit there claiming rugby league has become vanilla. Or that it’s turning into rugby union.

As Roosters coach Trent Robinson rightfully said, can two men not have a difference of opinion?

Rugby league is a game built on intense passion, hatred and with that, forthright opinion and scrutiny.

Thurston is within his rights to declare why he felt Leniu got off lightly for racially vilifying Broncos player Ezra Mam.

Thurston was a vocal critic of Leniu only receiving an eight-match ban for his racial slur against Mam last year. The champion halfback said he should’ve got 12.

And so Leniu fronted him on it. Passionate. Defiant. Within his rights.

By 10.30am on Saturday, more than 25,000 people had clicked into the story to read Peter Badel’s exclusive coverage of the Leniu-Thurston spat.

The numbers will be double that by Sunday.

This is a game where fans salivate over it’s ability to create great theatre. This is a sport where fans are welcomed to express their own views and opinion on the game.

Down in Wollongong on Friday night, Dragons “Money Man”, winger Christian Tuipulotu revived his post-try celebration during Saints big win over the Titans.

The fans in the stands lapped it up. Even coach Shane Flanagan smiled about it.

Leniu, Thurston, Tuipulotu, it’s all drama, entertainment and passion that makes rugby league the greatest game of all and the envy of rival codes.