‘Come and see me after’: Spencer Leniu call out amid Ezra Mam hotel clash

The NRL’s ugly racism scandal has taken a fresh twist after an on-field call out from Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu for Ezra Mam was revealed.

Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu has reportedly confronted Ezra Mam and two of his Broncos teammates at the team hotel as the ugly fallout from Sunday’s season opener continued.

With just over 10 minutes to go in the second match of the NRL’s first foray into Las Vegas, Brisbane’s Mam put in a formal complaint about Leniu over an alleged racial slur.

In audio from the match, Mam was heard telling referee Adam Gee “he called me a monkey” and pushing to put in a formal complaint.

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Post-match, Mam was reportedly “in tears” over the incident and coach Kevin Walters and captain Adam Reynolds confirmed he was upset in the change rooms.

But in comments that emerged on Nine News on Monday, Leniu brushed off the drama to journalist Danny Weidler.

“Just a little bit of banter on the field,” Leniu said.

“Whatever he (Mam) wants to do with it, he can come and see me after if he wants.

“I don’t know. It was all just fun and games on the field, a bit of banter. If they want to do anything, we’re staying in the same hotel, so I’m right there.”

It didn't sound good from Leniu. Photo: Channel 9

Leniu also made similar comments to Triple M after the game.

However, The Courier Mail has reported that Leniu, who has since been referred directly to the judiciary, confronted Mam, Pat Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs in the hotel after the teams had dinner in the early hours of the morning.

Earlier in the day, it was reported by the Sydney Morning Herald that the Broncos players had confronted Leniu.

The report says Leniu is “facing an extended stint on the sidelines if found guilty, possibly up to two months, with ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys determined to take a zero-tolerance approach on racism in the code”.

Both the Roosters and Broncos were staying at Resorts World in Vegas and their dining areas were approximately 50m apart.

But as the trio were returning to their rooms instead of heading to the casino downstairs, Leniu reportedly “made a beeline for Staggs” who was at the front of the trio.

The pair exchanged words but there was no physical altercation between the parties.

Leniu is alleged to have launched a tirade directed at Mam, accusing the Broncos No. 6 of “inflaming the situation”.

Carrigan was reported to have stood between the pair until a Roosters official who was nearby pulled Leniu away from the fray.

It almost got much more awkward as the Broncos and Roosters were booked on the same flight out of Las Vegas to San Francisco before heading home.

The Broncos and Leniu were getting heated on field. Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP

Phil Rothfield reported that the NRL had to ensure the teams were well separated and even left the hotel at staggered times, the Roosters an hour after the Broncos.

It continues the ugly fallout from the incident as Leniu faces an uncertain start to his time at the Roosters, having moved east after three-straight premierships with the Panthers.

He will now face a judiciary hearing after he arrives back in Australia from the Vegas showcase.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo spoke regarding the incident, telling Fox Sports News: “It needs to follow natural justice and it needs to be an appropriate hearing.

“The player involved has been charged. He’s been referred directly to the judiciary so there’ll be a hearing. That process will unfold,” Abdo told Fox Sports News.

“I won’t say anything more about the matter because we need to respect that process, but that has all been confirmed.

“The actual date of the hearing is to be confirmed, and we’ll make announcements on that later in the week.

“I can’t comment on the specifics of what occurred last night given the fact it’s now a live matter.

“It needs to follow natural justice and it needs to be an appropriate hearing. An independent panel will look at whatever evidence is available, and then make a determination. We’ll respect that.”

Mam, who had to withdraw from this year’s Indigenous All Stars side due to injury, was visibly shaken on the field after the alleged slur.

Several high-profile Indigenous players such as Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker leapt to his defence on social media.