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Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu was reportedly on the receiving end of a “derogatory remark” just moments before he made a racist comment to Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam in Las Vegas.
The Leniu-Mam incident has dominated headlines ever since Mam accused Leniu of calling him a “monkey” during the two clubs’ Round 1 clash at Allegiant Stadium,
After initially trying to hose down the incident by calling it “banter” and “fun and games” in a post-game interview, Leniu has owned up to using the word, issued a public apology and pleaded guilty ahead of his judiciary hearing on Monday night.
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Veteran News Corp journalist Phil Rothfield told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast on Sunday that he expects Leniu to get a “four to six-week” suspension before revealing some more detail about the incident.
“There is talk that a Broncos player made a very derogatory remark to Spencer Leniu that led to his brain explosion,” Rothfield said.
“He has privately confirmed this.
“He’s a different sort of dude though, he was brought up on the streets of Mount Druitt and they have this thing where you just don’t snitch and don’t dob anyone in.”
It comes as Channel 9 journalist Danny Weidler also stated in his Sydney Morning Herald column: “There’s no question his comment wasn’t made without other comments coming his way, but he won’t go down that path.”
Spencer Leniu apologises & pleads guilty | 01:41
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Mam has, however, reportedly rejected Leniu’s apology — despite the 23-year-old offering to do it in person in Brisbane.
Rothfield is “really pleased” that Leniu has “taken ownership for a really poor mistake” but has found the aftermath very upsetting.
It’s created a division between Indigenous role models Anthony Mundine and Latrell Mitchell, who share different opinions on the incident, while veteran coach Wayne Bennett staunchly said “we are not a racist game” and urged the “drama queens to stay out of it.”
“I’m really disappointed in the fallout afterwards,” Rothfield admitted.
“To see Anthony Mundine and Latrell Mitchell — two really proud Indigenous men — the fact it’s split them. I love Anthony Mundine and he’s a pioneer in this area but for him to tell Ezra Mam to toughen up I thought was really poor.
“I thought Wayne Bennett calling them drama queens was unnecessary. It’s a really, really sad story.”
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