NRL 2024: Peter V’landys says racism scandal won’t tarnish Las Vegas spectacle

Peter V’landys couldn’t avoid the Las Vegan racism scandal as he arrived in Sydney to trumpet the NRL’s latest success story.

Roosters player Spencer Leniu is at the centre of a racism storm. Picture: Rohan Kelly

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys is confident racism allegations levelled at Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu didn’t tarnish the opening round spectacle in Las Vegas, adamant it was a “massive success”.

Leniu arrived home in Sydney on Tuesday having been referred straight to the NRL judiciary amid allegations he called Brisbane Broncos star Ezra Mam a “monkey” during their clash at Allegiant Stadium.

The Roosters arrived to a swarm of media at Sydney airport with V’Landys on the same flight. Asked to address the issue, he said there was “zero tolerance on racism” and he’d contacted the Broncos to check on Mam’s welfare.

But V’landys was adamant the fallout, which included players from both teams clashing in their Las Vegas hotel, had taken no shine off the first year of a five-year deal to play matches in the US.

“I don’t think it’s tarnished anything,” he said.

Peter V’landys says the racism scandal hasn’t tarnished the NRL’s Vegas experiment. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“It’s been a massive success for Australia and the game, it’s built a foundation for us to build on. It was an unbelievable atmosphere, the Americans got a taste of rugby league – we’re the talk everywhere in America at the moment – we just hope now in the next four years we capture a big slice of the market.”

Leniu’s date with the judiciary has not yet been set, but V’Landys said there would be a significant penalty if the Roosters prop was found guilty.

“We will not tolerate it, but this player (Leniu) is going to be given every chance and opportunity to defend himself. He deserves natural justice and due process, and he will get that,” he said.

“We all have feelings, we all have sensitivities and people should think before they say things to anybody, not just a rugby league player. Your words do hurt, that’s if he said them. He’s got to be given due process yet and natural justice. We’ve got to make sure that he actually did say that.”

Leniu was ushered out of the airport by Roosters staff, telling reporters “I’m not allowed to comment on that right now” when quizzed on the incident.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Peter V’landys says racism scandal won’t tarnish Las Vegas spectacle