- Mom left in tears after alleged abuse in Las Vegas
- Leniu later said he was not concerned about the punishment
- Has now been charged by the NRL after being accused
Roosters forward Spencer Leniu has been charged by the NRL after he was accused of hitting Broncos star Ezra Mam with a shocking racial slur during the teams’ match in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The NRL match review committee has charged the 23-year-old with unruly conduct after Mam claimed he called him a ‘monkey’.
In a troubling sign for Leniu, there will be no review of the charges, meaning he will have to attend a judicial hearing where the Broncos will be able to present evidence against him, police said. Daily telegram.
A Roosters star secretly apologized to Mom after the alleged incident and two more Broncos players have said they heard the slur, the publication reported.
Leniu (pictured right during an on-field confrontation with Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs) has been referred directly to the judiciary by the NRL, in a worrying sign for the Roosters forward
Ezra Mam (pictured second from left) accused Leniu of making a shocking racist comment during his side’s loss to the Roosters on Sunday
The news comes after Leniu was involved in a confrontation with Broncos players, including Kotoni Staggs, at the Vegas hotel where the two teams were staying.
Players exchanged words as they passed each other at the Hilton at Resorts World in Las Vegas after returning from the game.
Witnesses said there was no threat of a physical altercation, and Leniu was led down the hallway by club staff as words were exchanged.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Leniu first collided with Broncos center Kotoni Staggs before Patrick Carrigan and Mam emerged from a team room to see what happened.
After the match, Leniu reacted bizarrely when asked about the racist comments on the pitch.
Mum (pictured) was left in tears after the alleged slur – and has received messages of support from football stars including Latrell Mitchell and his teammate Reece Walsh
‘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.”
Indigenous South Sydney half Cody Walker called out Leniu on social media, sharing the image of that interview with the caption: “Fun and games they count.”
Gammin or gammon is an Aboriginal word meaning fake, cheap or broken.
Indigenous South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell also backed the Broncos half after the incident, posting: ‘I’m behind you bala @ezra mom. @NRL better handle this s**t.
Mom’s superstar teammate Reece Walsh also supported the half after the incident, writing: “I always have my brother.”