Sydney Roosters prop Spencer Leniu has received an eight-week suspension for making a racial slur against Brisbane Broncos’ five-eighth Ezra Mam.
Leniu admitted his guilt prior to the hearing, with the NRL’s judiciary panel, consisting of former international player Bob Lindner and ex-referee Sean Hampstead, delivering the verdict. Judiciary chairman Geoffrey Bellew presided over the hearing.
As a result of the suspension, Leniu will be sidelined for the Roosters’ upcoming matches against the Manly Sea Eagles, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Penrith Panthers, Canterbury Bulldogs, Newcastle Knights, Melbourne Storm, St George Illawarra Dragons, and Brisbane Broncos. He will be eligible to return for the match against the New Zealand Warriors in Round 10.
During the hearing, the NRL’s legal representative argued for an eight-match suspension, while Leniu’s legal team proposed a four-match suspension. The judiciary panel unanimously agreed on the full length of the suspension.
The hearing included a statement from Mam, who reported that Leniu had directed a racial slur, “F**k up you monkey,” towards him after Mam had instructed a play to be executed towards Leniu, who was positioned at marker in defense.
During the two-hour hearing leading to the verdict, Leniu maintained that he was unaware of the racial connotations associated with the term ‘monkey.’
“I deeply regret using that word towards Ezra and causing him distress. In the heat of the moment, I uttered a word without understanding its significance,” Leniu expressed during the hearing as reported by NRL.com.
“I didn’t comprehend the impact of that word on the Indigenous community, Ezra, and his family.”
Leniu clarified that his post-match interview, where he characterized the incident as “all fun and games,” stemmed from his lack of awareness about the term’s implications.
“At the time of the post-match interview, I genuinely believed I hadn’t done anything wrong, hence my comment that ‘it was all fun and games,'” Leniu explained.
“I perceived it as one adult taunting another, which was a common practice among the people I associated with.”
He admitted to being unaware of previous incidents involving racial slurs in sports, specifically mentioning not knowing about AFL player Adam Goodes.
The NRL’s prosecution contended that Leniu, having resided in Australia for 15 years, should have been aware of the term’s racist connotations. Nonetheless, they urged the panel to prioritize player safety.
“Recognizing that Leniu knew the racist implications of the term ‘monkey’ doesn’t necessarily imply that he is inherently racist,” stated NRL’s representative Lachlan Gyles.
“However, ensuring the safety of players is paramount, and thus, this is a significant matter for consideration.”
