Spencer Leniu ADMITS he racially abused Ezra Mam – and now faces a monster ban from footy
- Roosters are accused of unruly behavior
- Pleaded guilty on Thursday and will now be suspended
- A foul occurred in his first game for the Roosters
Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu has pleaded guilty to racially abusing Broncos star Ezra Mam during the teams’ match in Las Vegas last Sunday.
The NRL match review committee accused the 23-year-old of unruly behavior after Mam claimed he called him a ‘monkey’.
In a worrying sign for Leniu, no assessment was made of the charges, which were referred directly to a judicial hearing, indicating the seriousness of the act.
The attacker has apologized to Mom after being placed on report in the 69The first minute of the 20-10 win over Brisbane on Sunday, after native five-eighth Mam told referee Adam Gee the prop had called him a ‘monkey’.
Leniu (pictured right during a confrontation with Broncos star Kotoni Staggs during the Las Vegas game) has also apologized to Ezra Mam
Mom (second from left) is pictured making a complaint of racist abuse during his team’s loss to the Roosters in Las Vegas last Sunday
“I would like to apologize to Ezra and his family for using the word I used and I am sincerely sorry for causing him so much grief,” Leniu said.
‘I have raised my hand and want to take ownership of this. I said the word, but I didn’t mean it in a racist way. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not like that.’
Other Indigenous stars have come out on social media this week calling for a massive ban, with NRL bosses stating racist comments will be dealt with harshly.
There have been calls for Leniu to be handed an eight-match ban, with Latrell Mitchell taking to Instagram to suggest the former Panther should spend an extended period out of the game.
Latrell Mitchell (pictured) called on Leniu to comply with a ban of more than twelve weeks
It is the first racism complaint on the ground since Tyrone Peachey accused Mitchell Barnett of abusing him in 2020, although he avoided a ban due to a lack of evidence.
Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes said this would be a line in the sand for the NRL – before knowing Leniu had pleaded guilty – with the Indigenous All Stars playmaker calling on the game to crack down on racism.
‘We have spectators and people who sometimes make racist comments, and we players don’t support any of that. So now this is the first time in a while that it’s happened (on the field), so it just has to happen,” he said on Tuesday.
“Even if it wasn’t Spencer, if it was someone else — I’m not trying to just pin everything on Spencer — I feel like there’s a line to be drawn and this is going to be the moment it happens. It has to be done.’
All eyes will be on the judiciary next week, with Leniu set to learn the length of his suspension in just one game of his Roosters career.
The ex-Panther reportedly clashed with Mom and other Broncos players at the Vegas hotel where the teams were staying after the game.
He met Mam and his teammates Pat Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs, and reportedly began ranting at Mam about the accusation he made.
In his apology to mum (pictured, left) on Thursday, Leniu explained: ‘I said the word but I didn’t mean it in a racist way’
Carrigan got between the pair and a Roosters official removed Leniu from the confrontation, the publication reported.
After the match, Leniu reacted bizarrely when asked about the racist comments on the pitch.
‘I think it’s all fun and enjoyable when we’re on the field. That’s it,’ he said.
When Leniu was further asked if he was concerned about the possible consequences, he replied: “Not concerned at all.”
“Spencer has been completely open and honest throughout this process and we will continue to support him,” Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly said.
“We offer our deepest apologies to Ezra, his family and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and offer our support to all parties during this time.
‘We respect the legal process. Therefore, the club will make no further comment prior to the hearing.”