Spencer Leniu is facing the likelihood of a lengthy suspension after acknowledging that he directed a racial slur towards Ezra Mam during the NRL’s inaugural round in Las Vegas.
The Sydney Roosters prop pleaded guilty to contrary conduct and issued an apology to the Brisbane five-eighth in a statement released on Thursday, marking the first formal acknowledgment by the Roosters regarding the incident.
However, Leniu maintains that he did not intend to racially offend the Indigenous 21-year-old when he referred to him as a “monkey” during the game at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday night (Sunday AEDT).
Following the altercation, Mam lodged an official on-field complaint with referee Adam Gee after Leniu singled him out during a confrontation late in the Roosters’ 20-10 victory.
Leniu was put on report during the match and subsequently referred directly to the NRL judiciary, with a hearing scheduled for Monday night.
As of now, the NRL has not been able to obtain audio evidence of the slur, but it is anticipated that Broncos players will provide testimony during Leniu’s appearance before the panel.
Initially, the Roosters recruit played down the incident when questioned by broadcast media after the game, characterizing the tensions between the teams as “fun and games.”
Those remarks sparked criticism from Indigenous players such as Kotoni Staggs and Latrell Mitchell, prompting Leniu to express his regret afterward.
“I want to extend my apologies to Ezra and his family for using the word I did, and I sincerely regret causing him such distress,” Leniu stated.
“I take full responsibility for my actions. Although I used the word, it was not my intention to use it in a racist manner. Those who know me understand that this does not reflect who I am.”
The Broncos have consistently supported Mam’s version of events and issued their own statement in response to Leniu’s apology on Thursday.
“The Broncos acknowledge Spencer’s apology to Ezra and recognize the significance of taking this step. Racism has no place in our sport or in our society,” the statement read.
“The club respects the ongoing NRL judiciary process and will refrain from making further comments on the matter.
“Ezra’s well-being has been our main concern from the beginning. He has received strong support within our club, and we will continue to prioritize that in the days ahead.”
Leniu’s remarks deeply affected Mam and led to a heated confrontation between Roosters and Broncos players at their Las Vegas hotel.
In the aftermath, both current and former players have shared their opinions as the incident threatened to overshadow the league’s high-profile venture into the American market.
Roosters CEO Joe Kelly issued an apology to Mam as part of the club’s official statement.
“Spencer has been completely transparent and forthcoming throughout this process, and we will continue to stand by him,” he stated.
“We offer our sincere apologies to Ezra, his family, and the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and we extend our support to all parties involved during this challenging time.”
