Roosters prop Spencer Leniu insists he only knew at 6.30am the day after being accused of calling Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam a “monkey” that the term was racist.
“An older Aboriginal lady had sent me a message with a definition of what the word means,” he told the NRL judiciary on Monday night. “That’s when I realised.”
This is the moment when you either believe Leniu — or call bullshit.
When you accept that he’s truly remorseful for using the word in the season-opener in Las Vegas — or he just wants to get back on the field as soon as possible.
When you hope the game can learn from this sorry episode — or it’s best to just shame the 23-year-old into oblivion.
Leniu’s fate wasn’t decided by the public, nor the media, nor the Indigenous players past and present who wanted the proverbial book thrown at him. To set an example. To draw a line in the sand.
Roosters forward Spencer Leniu enters the NRL judiciary hearing on Monday night with coach Trent Robinson.Credit: Wolter Peeters
It was decided by the judiciary panel of chairman Geoff Bellew, former referee Sean Hampstead and retired international Bob Lindner.
After 40 minutes of deliberation, they handed Leniu an eight-match suspension, finding he had “intended the remark as a racist comment” and that a heavy penalty was needed as a “clear deterrent” against racism.
It took a 6.30am message for Spencer Leniu to realise he’d used a racial slur
7
0
11.03.2024
Roosters prop Spencer Leniu insists he only knew at 6.30am the day after being accused of calling Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam a “monkey” that the term was racist.
“An older Aboriginal lady had sent me a message with a definition of what the word means,” he told the NRL judiciary on Monday night. “That’s when I realised.”
This........
© The Sydney Morning Herald
visit website
login
who are we?
contact us
qosheapp
Toi Staff
Gideon Levy
Belen Fernandez
Andrew Mitrovica
Mort Laitner
Nikkei Editorial
Rami G Khouri
Ali Fathollah-Nejad
