Brent Read: Why NRL had to send strong message racism will not be tolerated

Spencer Leniu insisted he had no understanding of what the word monkey meant to Indigenous people. How hurtful it was. But he knows now after the NRL made an almighty statement racism will not be tolerated, writes BRENT READ.

The NRL judiciary sent a strong message on Monday night.

A message that hopefully resonates not just across the NRL, but throughout Australian sport and the people who follow it.

It wasn’t the 12 weeks or more some had campaigned for, among them South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell, but an eight-week ban for Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu was more than enough to make a statement about the game’s stance on racism. It won’t be tolerated. It can’t be tolerated.

Indigenous players and their culture are too important to the game of rugby league. An attack on them is an attack on the code itself.

The NRL needed to show strength and they showed plenty.

Leniu insisted he had no understanding of what the word monkey meant to Indigenous people. How hurtful it was. He knows now. So does every other NRL player.

After a 90-minute hearing it took the panel nearly 30 minutes to reach their verdict. It was unanimous.

Spencer Leniu arriving at the NRL Judiciary alongside Trent Robinson on Monday evening. Picture: Jonathan Ng

In Brisbane, Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam and his family will hopefully feel like the game has wrapped their arms around him and his people.

Mam provided a 12-paragraph statement outlining the hurt he and his family had suffered in the wake of being called a monkey by Leniu in Las Vegas just over a week ago.

Only four paragraphs of that statement found their way into he public domain. The remaining eight were too personal for Mam to share. The hurt was too deep.

The rest of the rugby league world has spent the past week debating an issue that has brought out the best and worst in the sport.

Only hours before the hearing began, Mitchell posted an image on social media of vile attacks on Mam.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo had largely kept his thoughts to himself but he released a statement shortly after Monday night’s verdict in which he applauded Mam.

“Racism and vilification have no place in modern society and will not be tolerated in rugby league,” Abdo said.

“Since 1908, when working class rugby league communities broke away to demand a fair go, this sport has been about bringing people together.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo praised Mam following the Leniu outcome. Picture: Grant Trouville

“Our game takes pride in being inclusive and in driving social change. In 1960, Lionel Morgan was the first Indigenous player to represent Australia in any sport, while Artie Beetson – an immortal of our game – was the first Indigenous man to captain an Australian national team when he lead out the Kangaroos in 1973.

“The events of last week go against everything the game is built on. We all take great pride in the game’s strong links to Indigenous culture, its representation of Indigenous and Pacific Islander players and its ability to meld communities together.

“Naturally, the shock of this event caused an outpouring of emotion. I have spoken to Ezra to commend him for speaking up and taking a stand.

“It has been warming to see the game rally around him during this time. I also acknowledge Spencer Leniu’s genuine remorse and apology and ask everyone to consider his wellbeing after a testing time in his young career.

“We are human beings and we make mistakes. That is how we all learn and grow.”

Spencer Keniu makes the walk to the NRL judiciary. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The night had begun with Leniu making the short walk from Sydney Roosters headquarters to Rugby League Central about five minutes before his date with the NRL judiciary was due to kick-off.

The issued had simmered since Las Vegas, even pitting Indigenous icons Anthony Mundine and Mitchell against each other.

Leniu had wisely kept his head down but his day had now arrived. Leniu is a fearsome man on the field but he walked in with a show of strength.

Chief executive Joe Kelly led a Congo line of heavy hitters that included coach Trent Robinson, head of football Chris James and Leniu’s legal counsel James McLeod.

Dressed in a suit and Roosters tie, Leniu undid the button on his jacket as he made his way through the doors at NRL headquarters and took a seat in the conference room on the ground floor where he would learn his fate.

Through 90 minutes of evidence and argument, Leniu fidgeted in his chair and clenched his jaw. He showed little emotion. He stared dispassionately at the big screen when replays were shown of his exchange with Mam.

Leniu awaits his fate in his hearing that took over 90 minutes. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Confrontation is in his nature. Aggression is what makes him such a fearsome figure on the football field. On this night, he largely let others take up the fight on his behalf.

When he was given the chance to defend himself, he insisted that his use of the word “monkey” had no racial undertones.

He revealed he had been called monkey himself. Coconut as well. His group of friends, he insisted, had competitions to determine who was the darkest player in the team.

“A lot of people in my circle are the same skin tone as me,” Leniu said.

“Our slang and how we speak to each other, all those words – black c..t – are used. It is so common win our language, how we speak to each other.”

Leniu won’t be seen on the field until at least round 10. Picture: NRL Imagery

He took no offence and he insisted that he meant none when he sledged Mam.

He only got a grasp of the implications of his comment after receiving an email from an elderly Aboriginal woman the morning after the game.

Asked whether he was aware of the racial attack on former Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes a decade ago, Leniu pleaded ignorance.

He confirmed that he had wanted to fly to Brisbane to personally apologise to Mam but the olive branch had been rejected by the Brisbane star.

“For me as a person, for me as a man, the way I grew up, I would have flown up to Brisbane and said sorry to him man to man, face-to-face without anyone knowing,” Leniu said.

“There is no room for racism I this game and I am happy he brought it up. I love those people, I love that they stand for and their culture. I don’t think we have this game without Indigenous people.”

On that we can all agree.

Originally published as Brent Read: Why NRL had to send strong message racism will not be tolerated