Spencer Leniu handed eight-week ban, reveals 6am wake-up call
Sydney Roosters star Spencer Leniu has revealed the moment everything changed for him after using an offensive slur.
NRL
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Spencer Leniu has finally learned his fate for racially abusing Broncos star Ezra Mam at the NRL Judiciary on Monday night.
Ever since the incident came to light during the Roosters’ clash with the Broncos in Las Vegas there has been enormous interest in the length of the suspension Leniu would receive.
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Leniu, 23, had already pleaded guilty to the contrary conduct charge, admitting calling Mam a “monkey” in the season-opening clash on March 3.
After extensive evidence was presented by both the Roosters’ legal team and the NRL counsel in a 90-minute hearing, a ban of eight weeks has been given to the Tricolours’ prop.
The Roosters and Broncos are set to face off again in Round 9 and there was conjecture over whether Leniu’s suspension would allow him to feature in what would be a highly charged match.
Instead, the decision means Leniu can return to action for the Roosters’ following clash with the Warriors in Round 10.
“We accept the suspension of eight weeks, but in relation to the hearing, the club stands behind Spencer and is firmly of the belief that he is not racist,” Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly said afterwards.
“The club remains strong in its position that Spencer did not use the word – the subject of tonight’s hearing – in a racially derogatory way.
“To be clear, the club does not believe that Spencer was putting Ezra down in a racially based way.”
Leniu arrived at the hearing at NRL headquarters in Moore Park flanked by coach Trent Robinson and a Roosters legal team, with Geoff Bellew fronting the judiciary panel alongside former Kangaroo Bob Lindner and ex-referee Sean Hamstead.
Nearing the end of deliberations, Bellew told the panel members to ingore previous media reporting on the incident and determine if Leniu had said the words as a racial remark.
Earlier, the NRL counsel stated its belief an eight-week suspension would be appropriate and send the message racism has no place in the sport.
The counsel also put to Leniu during cross-examination the Rooster would have known the term “monkey” is racist and highly offensive.
It also stated Leniu, who is being represented by prominent barrister James McLeod, would have been aware of the racial vilification Swans great Adam Goodes endured during his career, which included a high-profile incident of being called an “ape” .
Leniu denied both assertions and remarkably even stated he doesn’t know who Goodes is, according to NCA Newswire reporting from the hearing, despite living in Sydney for most of his life.
Leniu told defense counsel James McLeod that he took “100 per cent responsibility” and that he would “never” use the slur again, adamant that he didn’t know Mam’s background when he made the comment.
The Roosters prop found out just how offensive the slur was the following day at around 6am when an elderly Aboriginal woman sent him a text message showing the definition of “monkey” and how culturally insensitive the term was.
“That’s when I realised,” Leniu said.
It’s why Leniu wanted to fly to Brisbane to have a face-to-face chat and apologise to the Broncos five-eighth, who turned down the offer because he wasn’t ready to confront the Samoan forward.
“If I had it my way in a perfect world, I would have preferred to say sorry to him in person,” he said.
“I would’ve flown to Brisbane and said it to his face without others knowing.
“I don’t have any worries about him saying no to me because I understand what he’s going through. Hopefully down the line without anyone knowing I can see him in person and say I’m sorry.”
Mam wasn’t in attendance at the hearing, instead submitting a written statement as evidence.
Journalist James Hooper was at NRL headquarters in Sydney for the hearing and revealed details of Mam’s statement, with some of it redacted.
“Ezra Mam has submitted a 12-paragraph statement of his version of exactly what happened in that incident,” Hooper said.
“The key wording is when Spencer looked at him, pointed at him and said ‘F-up you monkey’.
“There is an element of that statement Ezra has asked remains confidential.
“Now it’s just a matter for the panel to come up with exactly what they believe is a fair punishment in terms of how many weeks Spencer Leniu will be rubbed out for.”
League great Johnathan Thurston, who reacted emotionally when the comment first arose from the Vegas game, said on Channel 9 he wanted Leniu to receive a harsh penalty.
“Professional sports people should be held to a higher standard,” Thurston said.
“I’d be comfortable if it was about that 12-week mark.”
Broncos half Mam, 21, rejected an attempt from Leniu to meet for a formal apology.
Legendary prop Steve “Blocker” Roach stated his thoughts earlier on Monday night on Fox League.
“You just can’t do it anymore mate,” he said of the charge.
“Not that you could (previously) anyway, but you used to get away with that sort of stuff.
“But you just can’t do it. I reckon about 4-6 weeks would be a good enough penalty.”
Broncos stars Payne Haas and Billy Walters are also understood to have given written statements to the judiciary over the incident.
An allegation has since emerged that Leniu himself had been subjected to a derogatory comment from an unknown Broncos player prior to the abuse directed towards Mam.
Channel 9 journalist Danny Weidler wrote in a Sydney Morning Herald column: “There’s no question his comment wasn’t made without other comments coming his way, but he won’t go down that path.”
Veteran journalist Phil Rothfield has also reported on the alleged comment from a Brisbane player, stating Leniu has confirmed it privately but isn’t prepared to “snitch” on the player.
The Brisbane club reacted with shocked at that allegation but assistant coach Matt Ballin has stressed their only concern has been Mam’s welfare.
“I don’t think that (allegation) really affects us, but it’s upsetting,” Ballin said.
“As a club we are supporting Ezra and making sure he is OK.
“That speaks volumes for this club and playing group, the way everyone has rallied around him and just got on with what we need to do and helped him in this tough time.”
NRL great Paul Gallen also weighed into the drama, slamming the time it has taken for the hearing to get underway in a column for Wide World of Sports.
“I honestly can’t believe it’s been eight days since Spencer Leniu’s racist sledge and the NRL still hasn’t put it to bed,” Gallen wrote.
“The governing body needed to schedule the judiciary hearing last week, before the rest of round one got underway on Thursday night.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous that the NRL has let the issue fester for more than a week.
“Now we have the rugby league rumour mill discussing what Broncos players may have been saying to Leniu during the same game.
“This could have been nipped in the bud five days ago.”
- with NCA Newswire
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