- Estrella de los Gallos faces charges of contrary conduct
- He pleaded guilty Thursday and now faces a suspension
- The offense came in his first game with the Roosters.
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Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu has pleaded guilty to racially abusing Broncos star Ezra Mam during the teams’ clash in Las Vegas last Sunday.
The NRL match review committee charged the 23-year-old with contrary conduct after mum alleged she called him a “monkey”.
In a worrying sign for Leniu, there was no qualification of the charge, which was referred directly to a court hearing, indicating the seriousness of the act.
The forward has apologized to Mom after being reported in ’69tenth minute of the 20-10 win over Brisbane on Sunday after indigenous five-eighth Mam told referee Adam Gee the prop had called him a “monkey”.
Leniu (pictured right during a confrontation with Broncos star Kotoni Staggs during the Las Vegas game) also apologized to Ezra Mam.
Mom (second from left) is pictured making the racial abuse claim during her team’s loss to the Roosters in Las Vegas last Sunday.
“I want to apologize to Ezra and his family for using the word I did and I am truly sorry for causing him so much distress,” Leniu said.
‘I raised my hand and I want to take charge of this. I said the word but I didn’t say it in a racist way. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not like that.
Other Indigenous stars came out during the week on social media calling for a major ban, with NRL bosses declaring any racial slurs will be dealt with harshly.
There have been calls for Leniu to receive an eight-game suspension, while Latrell Mitchell suggested on Instagram that the former Panther should face a longer period out of the game.
Latrell Mitchell (pictured) called on Leniu to serve a ban of more than 12 weeks
It is the first allegation of racism on the field since Tyrone Peachey accused Mitchell Barnett of abusing him in 2020, although he avoided a suspension due to lack of evidence.
Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes said this would be a breaking point for the NRL, before learning Leniu had pleaded guilty, and the Indigenous All Stars playmaker called on the game to tackle racism hard.
“We have spectators and sometimes they make racist comments and all the players do not tolerate it.” “So now this is the first time in a long time that this has happened (on the field), so it has to happen,” he said Tuesday.
“Even if it wasn’t Spencer, if it was someone else, I’m not just trying to blame Spencer, I feel like there has to be a line in the sand and this is going to be the time it happens.” It has to happen.’
All eyes will be on the judiciary next week, with Leniu preparing to find out the length of his suspension just one game into his Roosters career.
The former Panther reportedly clashed with Mam and other Broncos players at the Las Vegas hotel where the teams were staying after the game.
He met Mam and teammates Pat Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs, and went on a rant at Mam for the accusation she reportedly made.
In his apology to Mam (pictured, left) on Thursday, Leniu explained: “I said the word but I didn’t say it in a racist way.”
Carrigan stepped between the pair and a Roosters official removed Leniu from the confrontation, the publication reported.
After the match, Leniu offered a strange response when asked about the racial slur on the field.
‘I think it’s all fun and games when we’re on the field. That’s all,’ she said.
When asked further about whether he was worried about the possible consequences, Leniu replied: “I’m not worried at all.”
“Spencer has been completely open and honest throughout this process and we will continue to support him,” Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly said.
‘We extend our sincere apologies to Ezra, his family and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and offer our support to all parties during this time.
‘We respect the judicial process. “Therefore, the club will not be making any further comments ahead of the hearing.”