GRNSW staffer learns fate after posting distasteful form comment in relation to NRL racism saga

A GRNSW staffer has been terminated after a shocking form comment that mocked the Ezra Mam racism saga at a low-key Maitland greyhound meet. See the comment and reaction.

Ezra Mam was the subject of a tasteless comment on a greyhound form guide. Pictures: Liam Kidston, Supplied

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has received a formal apology from red-faced NSW greyhound bosses over a crass comment referencing the Ezra Mam-Spencer Leniu racism scandal.

This masthead can reveal a GRNSW staffer has been sacked over a tongue-in-cheek form-guide comment in a bizarre and tasteless twist to the NRL’s racism saga involving Broncos pivot Mam and Roosters prop Leniu.

Just hours after the NRL judiciary suspended Leniu for eight games for calling Mam a “monkey”, rugby league’s racism saga spilt into the greyhound industry.

In the lead-up to a low-key greyhound race at Maitland on Monday night, punters became enraged when noticing a comment for race favourite Ezra Man - the greyhound namesake of Broncos star Mam - began with the statement: “Go Bananas! Let’s see IF we can get some positive Headlines, tonight?”.

The comment, published nationwide, was made by an employee of GRNSW. GRNSW apologised unreservedly for the offensive comment, which also appeared on their official website, prompting embarrassed greyhound chiefs to contact Abdo late on Monday night.

“On Monday night in the form comments for the Maitland meeting produced by GRNSW and published on the thedogs website and on the platforms of our partners who use our comments, such as Sportsbet, an inappropriate and offensive comment was made in reference to the name of one of the runners,” the statement said.

The shocking comments attributed to greyhound 'Ezra Man' at Maitland on Monday March 11 on thedogs.com.au.

“GRNSW was made aware of the comment during the evening and immediately deleted the remark, and while this removed it from thedogs.com.au, this correction did not flow through to our partners.

“GRNSW is appalled by what was published, and apologises unreservedly for the comment, and the distress it has caused.

“GRNSW also apologises unreservedly to its partners who were unwittingly and through no fault of their own, caught up in the incident. GRNSW will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and appropriate action has been taken.”

Wagering giant Sportsbet, a major partner of the NRL, was forced to take the unprecedented step of ceasing wagering on race 12 at Maitland greyhounds on Monday night after the racial firestorm erupted on social media.

Following the social media eruption on Monday night GRNSW quickly moved to alter the comment on their website thedogs.com.au, but that was of little solace to Sportsbet, unable to alter the comments on their platforms supplied from the third-party provider.

Instead, Sportsbet ceased betting on the last event of the 12-race card in its entirety, two hours out from the scheduled start time of just before 11pm, with the race ultimately won by Ezra Man in runaway fashion as a well-supported favourite. It’s understood Sportsbet bosses are also in dialogue with the NRL to give the matter further context and understandably distance themselves from the comment made.

“We are extremely disappointed a highly offensive and inappropriate comments supplied by a third party were automatically published on our platforms,” a Sportsbet spokesperson said on Tuesday morning.

“Sportsbet immediately removed the event and associated comments when we became aware.

“Our partner Greyhound Racing NSW has confirmed that necessary action has been taken, and we have sought further reassurances that appropriate controls are in place.

“We do not tolerate hate speech, discrimination and racism in our organisation, on our platforms, or by our partners. We will continue to call it out and unreservedly apologise for the distress this has caused.”

Originally published as GRNSW staffer learns fate after posting distasteful form comment in relation to NRL racism saga