Sydney Rooster chair Nick Politis launches passionate defence of Spencer Leniu after Thurston clash

Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis has defended Spencer Leniu over his spat with Johnathan Thurston, giving the controversial forward a licence to continue showing “honesty and passion.”

Powerful Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis has defended Spencer Leniu over his spat with Johnathan Thurston at Suncorp Stadium, saying he wants the controversial forward to continue showing “honesty and passion.”

Leniu and the Channel 9 commentator and Queensland great were involved in two heated exchanges during and after Friday night’s match between the Roosters and Broncos in Brisbane.

The NRL won’t investigate the drama unless Thurston or Channel 9 seek action but neither party, as of Sunday, had lodged a complaint.

And there hasn’t been any indication Thurston or 9 will progress the matter.

“It was two blokes having words. People do that every day,” Politis said. “We do it among ourselves all the time.

“(Spencer) was just being honest and stating the facts. That’s all.

“He is very passionate - maybe too much at times – but that’s how we want them (our players).

“You want your players to be passionate. Spencer is a great guy with a good family and he’s newly married.”

The drama originated after Thurston weighed into the racial row between Leniu and Broncos player Ezra Mam in Las Vegas last year. Leniu was suspended for eight games for calling Mam a “monkey”, a ban Thurston insisted was too lenient.

Leniu’s anger escalated to boiling point over Thurston’s silence surrounding the perceived light nine-game suspension handed to Mam, who was involved in a car crash while driving unlicensed and under the influence of drugs.

The Roosters enforcer refused to be interviewed post-game by Thurston, later calling a rattled 9 commentator “fake and two-faced.”

Spencer Leniu confronts Johnathan Thurston after the Round 6 fixture. Picture: NRL Photos

Asked whether the matter was closed, Politis said: “It was all over the other night. Big deal.”

Politis was at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday – flanked by confidant Frank Colacicco and fellow director Andrew Crawford – watching the Roosters’ SG Ball and Harold Matthews sides play in finals matches.

Leniu can expect some serious fireworks if chosen in the NSW squad for State of Origin I in the Brisbane cauldron on May 28.

He played in all three games for the Blues last season.

Former Australian hard man Gorden Tallis said Thurston and Leniu should “move on.”

“As (Roosters coach) Trent Robinson said, they are two adult men having a conversation. Words shouldn’t hurt you,” Tallis told Triple M.

“(Thurston) is paid for his opinions and Spencer is allowed to be the villain. Shouldn’t it just stay there?”

Nick Politis (middle), Roosters director Andrew Crawford and Politis confidant Frank Colacicco at Leichhardt Oval watching the club’s junior rep teams on Sunday.

Ex-Bulldogs and Dragons forward James Graham added: “(Spencer) is a naturally confrontational kind of guy. He has stewed on this (since Vegas). ’JT’ (Thurston) looked shocked and taken aback.

“’JT’ was standing up for himself and Spencer was standing up for himself. That’s what grown men do. People like watching others get confrontational.”

Leniu said: “I said ‘Lad ‘idc’ (I don’t care) if you hate me for what I did. But don’t come up to me asking me questions like we’re Algood (sic).

“Don’t be two-faced. Hate me lad I’m (sweet) with that. But don’t be fake. I hate fake people.”

Thurston responded by saying: “As a proud Indigenous man, I clearly do not endorse Spencer’s remark in Las Vegas last year. However, the comments I made were an opinion on the penalty he was given and it is an opinion I stand by.

“As Spencer left the field during last night’s match he made an abusive comment to me, which took me and those around me by surprise. The comment was not of a racial nature but was overly aggressive in tone and unwarranted.”