Top Naija News: Nigerian News, Breaking News Nigeria and World News Top Naija News is a daily news publication in Nigeria, delivering the latest breaking news in Nigeria and around the world.
Spencer Leniu has been banned for eight matches for calling Ezra Mam a “monkey” after a 90-minute hearing at the NRL judiciary.
Leniu had previously entered a plea of guilty following his contrary conduct charge. He will be unavailable until round 10.
After the evidence was heard, panel members Sean Hampstead and Bob Lindner deliberated for more than half an hour before handing down their verdict.
READ MORE: Kiwis ‘spiral out of control’ as Carey seals nail-biter
READ MORE: ‘Ridiculous’ NRL act hung Mam, Leniu out to dry
READ MORE: Wallabies ‘filthy’ as Suaalii Roosters twist looms
Proceedings didn’t start well at Rugby League Central when NRL counsel Lachlan Gyles twice referred to Leniu as Luai before stating he plays for Tonga, not Samoa.
Eventually, Gyles read excerpts from Mam’s 12-paragraph statement.
Parts of the statement were kept private due to “an element of sensitivity”.
Mam claimed that during the match in Las Vegas, he identified Leniu in defence and said “run it back at Spencer”.
“I then recall Spencer saying words to the effect of ‘f— up you monkey’. I felt so angry and disappointed and from that point my focus was no longer on the game,” Mam’s statement read.
Speaking at the hearing, Leniu admitted that response was correct before again apologising for the remark.
“I’m so sorry that I used that word, that I made him feel little. This game happened so fast. In that split second I said a word that I didn’t know the meaning of,” he said.
“I thought it was just one brown man sledging another brown man.
“I’m happy he brought this up. I have no racial intent towards Ezra or the Indigenous community.”
Leniu revealed he received a message from an Indigenous woman the next morning which he claimed made him realise the significance of his remark. The Roosters prop also apologised for an exchange involving Broncos players in the hotel after the game.
In cross-examination, Leniu said he was unaware of similar incidents involving Andrew Symonds and Adam Goodes.
NRL counsel then pushed for an eight-match ban while Leniu’s representative James McLeod called for four matches, making comparison to the punishment handed down to Marcelo Montoya for a homophobic slur.
Upon return from deliberation, the panel issued the eight-match suspension with Leniu set to return in round 10 against the Warriors.
After the hearing, Roosters chief executive officer Joe Kelly apologised to Mam and his family for the incident.
“On behalf of Spencer and the Sydney Roosters we apologise unreservedly to Ezra and his family for the hurt that has been caused and we extend this apology to the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,” Kelly said in a statement.
“Inclusivity and diversity are key and fundamental values of the Sydney Roosters and we respect equally all backgrounds and cultures and will not tolerate any form of racism.
“We accept the suspension to Spencer of eight weeks and would like to thank our legal counsel James McLeod for representing the club.
“I would also like to acknowledge Spencer for the character he has shown over the past week. He was totally honest from the outset and wanted to own this immediately. In no way did he mean to direct the term to Ezra in a racial way.
“Spencer has learnt a great deal from the past week and we will ensure that we continue to support him in any way we can and increase his education about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Cultures.
“We will also be supporting all of our Indigenous players at the Club, and across the board, all staff and players will undergo further education of these cultures as well as the Pacifika culture.”
NRL chief executive officer Andrew Abdo also offered a statement after the suspension, stating lessons had been learnt from a “sad event”.
“The events of last week go against everything the game is built on,” he said.
“We all take great pride in the game’s strong links to indigenous culture, its representation of Indigenous and Pacific Islander players and its ability to meld communities together.
“As a migrant to Australia, the rugby league community made my family and I feel welcome in this country. Tonight, the NRL judiciary has independently confirmed an eight-match suspension.
Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
“Naturally, the shock of this event caused an outpouring of emotion. We must always call out bad behaviour when we see it, it’s important everyone involved in rugby league respects the independent judicial processes that are set up precisely for dealing with matters of this nature.
“I have spoken to Ezra to commend him for speaking up and taking a stand. It has been warming to see the game rally around him during this time. I also acknowledge Spencer Leniu’s genuine remorse and apology and ask everyone to consider his wellbeing after a testing time in his young career. We are human beings and we make mistakes.
“That is how we all learn and grow. The penalty applied tonight underscores the zero tolerance rugby league has for racism. From this sad event some important lessons can be learned.”
