- Fittler says it’s wrong for players to talk about racism saga
- Insists that commenting is a violation of league protocols
- He says players should call Ezra Mam if they’re worried.
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
Brad Fittler has called on the NRL to sanction players who have commented on the racist Spencer Leniu saga, saying they have broken league protocols.
Leniu will lead the NRL judiciary on Monday night, having pleaded guilty to using a racial slur against Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam in Las Vegas last week.
The Sydney Roosters recruit is expected to receive the harshest sanction ever imposed against an NRL player for a racial slur, with a lengthy ban anticipated.
The hearing will also end a week-long drama for the league, with Leniu’s “monkey” insult dominating headlines about the Las Vegas adventure.
In the days since, Indigenous All Stars captain Latrell Mitchell was among those posting on Instagram, with the South Sydney star saying: “The NRL better deal with this s**t.”
Brad Fittler has called for the NRL to come down hard on players who have commented on the racist Spencer Leniu saga.
Broncos star Ezra Mam allegedly called ‘monkey’ by Spencer Leniu in Las Vegas
But speaking on The Footy Show, former NSW State of Origin coach Fittler said it was wrong for the players to have spoken out about the matter.
‘Why doesn’t everyone call Ezra? Why does everything have to be done on social media?’ Fitter said.
‘The NRL has rules that you can’t go out and comment on situations that are going to reach the judiciary, so they should be in trouble.
‘If you want to support Ezra, call him. He goes see him. That’s how he supports someone.’
The AAP has been told there are no plans for the NRL to sanction any player who has commented on the matter.
Fittler also questioned why the hearing had not been held before or while he was still in Las Vegas, in an attempt to avoid the delicate debates that followed.
His comments came as Paul Gallen claimed “hysteria” over the incident would lead to Leniu receiving a longer ban than he believed the Roosters striker should.
“The hysteria around this has been crazy,” Gallen said.
Latrell Mitchell is among the players who have spoken out about the incident.
Roosters star Leniu is expected to headline the NRL panel this week.
‘If he had pleaded not guilty, he would never have received fair treatment. Can you imagine a judicial panel declaring him innocent?
‘They themselves would have been destroyed.
“I think eight weeks is too much… I think five or six weeks is enough.”
The NRL has had a limited history of on-field insults in recent years.
Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya was suspended for four weeks in 2022 for a homophobic slur, but that was caught on microphone and was not the subject of a player complaint.
Tyrone Peachey claimed Mitchell Barnett insulted him in 2020, but the investigation was closed when reviews of audio and visual footage found no evidence.
Gallen was fined $10,000 by the NRL for a racial slur against St George Illawarra’s Mickey Paea in 2009, prompting him to resign as Cronulla captain and issue a public apology.
Bryan Fletcher was also suspended for one match and lost the captaincy of South Sydney for a racist comment in 2005.
In other sports, the AFL suspended Adelaide star Taylor Walker for six weeks in 2021 for a racist comment against a Crows clubmate in a SANFL match.
The panel may take into account Leniu’s early guilty plea in finalizing his ban, with the Roosters prop claiming he did not realize the racial overtones of his comment.