- Fittler says it’s wrong for players to talk about racism
- Insists comments violate league protocols
- Says players should call Ezra Mom if they have any concerns
Brad Fittler has called on the NRL to impose sanctions on players who have commented on the Spencer Leniu racism saga, saying they breached the league’s protocols.
Leniu will appear before an NRL judge on Monday night after pleading guilty last week to using a racial slur against Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam in Las Vegas.
The Sydney Roosters recruit is expected to face the toughest sanction ever against an NRL player for racist comments, with a long-term ban on the horizon.
The hearing will also bring to a head a week of drama for the league, with Leniu’s “monkey” comments dominating headlines during the Las Vegas venture.
In the days that followed, Indigenous All Stars captain Latrell Mitchell was among those who posted on Instagram, with the South Sydney star saying: ‘NRL better handle this s**t’.
Brad Fittler has called on the NRL to crack down on players who have commented on Spencer Leniu’s racism saga
Broncos star Ezra Mam was called a “monkey” by Spencer Leniu in Las Vegas
But speaking on The Footy Show, former NSW State of Origin coach Fittler said it was wrong for players to have spoken about the issue.
‘Why doesn’t everyone call Ezra? Why does everything have to be done through social media?’ Fittler said.
“The NRL has rules where you can’t come out and comment on situations that go to the judiciary, so they should get in trouble.
“If you want to support Ezra, give him a call. Go see him. This is how you support someone.’
AAP has been told there is no plan for the NRL to sanction players who have commented on the matter.
Fittler also questioned why the hearing had not been held in Las Vegas sooner or later, in an effort to avoid the sensitive debates that followed.
His comments came as Paul Gallen claimed ‘hysteria’ over the incident would prompt Leniu to receive a longer ban than he thought the Roosters forward should.
“The hysteria around this is insane,” Gallen said.
Latrell Mitchell is among the players who have spoken out about the incident
Roosters star Leniu is expected to represent the NRL panel this week
“If he had pleaded not guilty, he would never have received fair hearing. Can you imagine a judicial committee finding him innocent?
‘They would have been destroyed themselves.
“I think eight weeks is too much… I think five or six weeks is enough.”
The NRL has had a limited history of on-field insults in recent years.
Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya was banned for four weeks in 2022 for a homophobic slur, but it was picked up on the microphone and was not the subject of a player complaint.
Tyrone Peachey claimed Mitchell Barnett made a slur against him in 2020, but the investigation was closed when reviews of audio and footage revealed no evidence.
Gallen was fined $10,000 by the NRL for racist comments against St. George Illawarra’s Mickey Paea in 2009, prompting him to resign as Cronulla captain and issue a public apology.
Bryan Fletcher was also suspended for one match and lost the South Sydney captaincy in 2005 for a racist comment.
In other sports, the AFL suspended Adelaide star Taylor Walker for six weeks in 2021 for a racist comment made to a Crows clubmate during a SANFL match.
Leniu’s early admission of guilt may be taken into account by the panel when finalizing his ban, with Roosters propaganda claiming he did not realize the racial connotations of his comment.