NRL Las Vegas 2024: Broncos star Ezra Mam accuses Roosters rival Spencer Leniu of making racial slur
South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell has responded to Broncos star Ezra Mam’s allegation Roosters rival Spencer Leniu directed a racist slur at him. See the alleged comment at centre of the ugly incident.
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South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell has thrown his support behind Ezra Mam after the Brisbane pivot sensationally accused Roosters rival Spencer Leniu of calling him a “monkey” in the Broncos’ drama-charged 20-10 loss in Las Vegas.
The Broncos’ historic season opener on American soil was marred by ‘Monkey-gate’ in the 69th minute when Indigenous ace Mam lodged a formal complaint of racial abuse by Leniu at Allegiant Stadium.
Before 40,746 fans, referee Adam Gee placed Leniu on report and the Roosters recruit could be referred straight to the judiciary if Mam’s allegations are upheld by the NRL match-review committee.
In audio from the match broadcast, Mam is heard telling referee Gee, “He called me a monkey”. Another Broncos player also says, “He called him a monkey”.
Gee then asks Mam if he wanted to make a formal complaint, to which Mam responds, “Yes I do”.
Speaking on Channel 9 commentary, NRL Indigenous legend Johnathan Thurston said: “They (Broncos players) said he (Mam) was in tears from it.”
An NRL spokesman confirmed an investigation is underway, saying: “The NRL is aware of an on-field matter and is reviewing the incident.”
NRL head of football Graham Annesley was seen in the Allegiant Stadium foyer past midnight, waiting to meet NRL CEO Andrew Abdo. The pair had planned to immediately go through all available audio around the incident.
The Leniu-Mam drama was salt to the wound for the Broncos, who lacked energy in midfield and copped a chilling reality check that last year’s grand-final campaign is a distant memory.
Brisbane were beaten out of the blocks, the Roosters leading from start to finish and nailing the coffin shut when Victor Radley crashed over eight minutes from time.
🚨🉠An official complaint of racial nature from Ezra Mam pic.twitter.com/w55d3zbxpK
— The Sporting Base - NRL (@BaseNrl) March 3, 2024
‘I STAND WITH YOU BALA’
South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell has turned up the heat on the NRL to tackle racism in rugby league following the alleged slur against Broncos young gun Ezra Mam.
Mitchell took to social media to demand the NRL “deal with this shit” after Mam sensationally accused Roosters rival Spencer Leniu of calling him a “monkey” in an explosive round 1 clash in Las Vegas.
Mam was left in tears by the incident and Indigenous role model Mitchell - who was racially abused by a Penrith fan last year - leapt to the defence of the Broncos pivot.
“I stand with you Bala,” Mitchell wrote in a post.
“(The NRL) better deal with this shit.”
Mam’s Broncos teammate Reece Walsh posted the same photo as Mitchell with the message “Got you always my brother.”
Amid the Mam-Leniu saga, the Broncos received a stinging wake-up call of their title credentials after being outgunned by the Roosters in their historic premiership opener on American soil.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters was left to lament his side’s lack of cohesion in attack as the Roosters’ flexed their premiership muscle with a commanding 20-10 victory at Allegiant Stadium.
But alarm bells for Brisbane are also ringing in midfield after the Roosters stormed the rucks to monster a Broncos side that has lost key forwards Tom Flegler, Kurt Capewell and Keenan Palasia.
All three played a major role in Brisbane’s charge to last year’s grand final and without the experienced trio on Sunday, the Broncos were outgunned.
“We were just clunky all night really,” Walters said.
“Our defence was pretty good I thought, but our attack just never flowed.
“We just didn’t execute what we came here to do really, which is disappointing.
“Before I left home, they said it’s always hard to win in Vegas and they weren’t wrong.”
MAM OH MAM
Brisbane’s patchy display was overshadowed by Mam’s stunning allegation, with Brisbane coach Kevin Walters confirming a formal complaint had been lodged with NRL officials.
“Ezra is pretty upset,” Walters said.
“Yes he is adamant (he was racially abused).
“We will leave that in the hands of the NRL to police and adjudicate on. But we certainly support Ezra and rightly so.”
Asked what happened in the incident with Mam, Leniu told Triple M: “Nothing. It’s all just fun and games on the field. That’s it.”
Pressed on whether he was concerned, Leniu said: “Not worried at all.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said he couldn’t be certain Leniu racially abused Mam.
“If he (Mam) is adamant, that doesn’t mean it’s right,” he said.
“It will have to go through the formal process.”
TOUGH PROP-OSITION
The jury was always going to be out on Brisbane’s engine room following the off-season departure of grand-final prop Tom Flegler to the Dolphins.
In the absence of Flegler, the Broncos were well beaten in the middle third. Superstar prop Payne Haas looked like a man desperately in need of a partner-in-crime.
Coach Kevin Walters made a late switch by starting with Martin Taupau ahead of Corey Jensen but he struggled to exert dominance, making just five runs for 44 metres.
Jensen (92m) and Roosters import Fletcher Baker (53m) were equally impotent. Haas averaged 187m per game last season but he was held to just 111m as hungry Roosters forwards swarmed the midfield.
REECE LIGHTNING
Brisbane’s golden boy Reece Walsh was outplayed and outsmarted by his champion Roosters rival James Tedesco.
It was a mixed night for ‘Reece Lightning’. There were some nice touches from Walsh, the finest coming in the 36th minute when the Broncos fullback scorched across field and slotted a perfect grubber kick for winger Deine Mariner to pounce.
But Walsh would have yearned for the second stanza all over again. He shoulder-charged a trybound Daniel Tupou and when he grassed a bomb moments later, the Roosters capitalised via a sublime Joey Manu flick pass for a 14-4 lead.
Walsh made amends by scoring to whittle the deficit to 14-10, but Tedesco had his measure for most of the night.
BACK-ROW BLOW
Brisbane have a depth issue in the back row. That was rammed home when disaster struck in the fourth minute after rookie second-rower Brendan Piakura copped a head knock attempting a tackle on Brandon Smith.
Piakura failed his HIA and it sent Brisbane’s forward rotation into disarray. Star lock Pat Carrigan was shifted to the edge, robbing the Broncos of his tireless incursions in midfield.
The Broncos weren’t planning for Kurt Capewell’s sudden departure to the Warriors and while Piakura is a promising talent at age 21, Brisbane need to go to the market to bolster their back-row stocks.
Without Flegler, Piakura and Keenan Palasia (Titans), the Broncos must keep Carrigan in the middle.
NEED FOR SPEED
Walters’ two key positional calls - moving Selwyn Cobbo to centre and choosing Deine Mariner ahead of Corey Oates on the wing - paid some dividends.
Mariner showed blistering speed to win the race to a Walsh grubber. Cobbo was largely well contained by Joey Manu, but showed silky skill to release Arthars for the Walsh try that set up a thrilling final quarter.
But overall, the Broncos lacked rhythm without four starters from last year’s grand final team. The hard graft must begin again.
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Originally published as NRL Las Vegas 2024: Broncos star Ezra Mam accuses Roosters rival Spencer Leniu of making racial slur
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