Spencer Leniu has received an eight-match suspension at the NRL Judiciary after he pleaded guilty to a contrary conduct charge relating to a racial slur he said to Brisbane's Ezra Mam.
It took the panel a little under an hour on Monday night to deem the incident befitting of a two-month stint on the sidelines after the story has dominated headlines and soured what had been a successful venture over to Las Vegas to kick off the new season.
Spencer Leniu suspended for eight matches at NRL judiciary hearing for Ezra Mam racial slur
The hearing opened with NRL legal counsel Lachlan Gyles reading part of Mam's written evidence about the incident.
MORE: What are the longest NRL suspensions in history?
The Brisbane player provided a 12-paragraph statement, although only a small section of it was publicised with the rest kept confidential, per Mam's request.
Ezra Mam has provided a 12 paragraph statement. Some has been read aloud.
— Emma Lawrence (@emmalawrence90) March 11, 2024
Ezra is claiming he said to a teammate as Payne Haas was playing the ball: “Run it back at Spencer”
Spencer replied: “F**k up you Monkey” @NRLonNine
"I was making a tackle on Payne Haas," Leniu said while providing evidence.
"Ezra Mam said something to me at the time and that’s when I said ‘f*** up monkey’.
"I am so sorry that I used that word I said that to Ezra and I made him feel little. This game goes so fast and, in that split second, I said a word I shouldn’t have.
"I didn’t know how much that word means to the Indigenous community.
"I thought it was one grow man sledging another grown man. In my circle that is so common, and I didn’t know how much that word meant to Ezra and to all the Indigenous people in the game."
Gyles questioned Leniu's assertion that he didn't realise the term 'monkey' would be offensive to Indigenous players before calling for an eight-match ban.
"This tribunal has a duty to send a strong message," Gyles said. "It is an opportunity to draw a line in the sand."
However, Leniu's defence team argued that the slur wasn't racially motivated.
"There was no racial intent," James McLeod stated. "That puts it in the medium category of contrary conduct.
"He was genuine, he was honest in his very poor use of a word but not one that was made with racial intent.
"He made a really bad mistake, one that has caused pain and hurt, but it wasn’t motivated by race."
McLeod requested a four-game penalty for the contrary conduct charge, as he cited how Marcelo Montoya copped a four-week suspension for a homophobic slur in 2022.
After the 90-minute hearing concluded, panel members Sean Hampstead and Bob Lindner were then told by NRL Judiciary Chair Geoff Bellew they had to determine if Leniu had said the word as a racial remark or not.
The panel deemed that Leniu did use the word 'monkey' as a racist term, while acknowledging he had showcased genuine remorse during the hearing.
What games will Spencer Leniu miss for the Sydney Roosters?
The Roosters will face fellow Vegas victors in the Sea Eagles this week before they host two mouth-watering matchups against South Sydney and Penrith at home.
In Round 5, they will battle against Cameron Ciraldo's Bulldogs, while this is followed by a trip to Newcastle to take on the Knights in Thursday night action.
This is the start of a three-week run where the Roosters will play the opening game of the round as they face the Storm in Round 7 ahead of their clash with the Dragons on ANZAC Day.
In Round 9, the Roosters and Broncos will meet once again, only this time it will be at Suncorp Stadium.
The Roosters then host the Warriors at Allianz Stadium in Round 10, which will be when Leniu is eligible to return.
| Round | Fixture | Venue |
| 2 | Sea Eagles vs. Roosters | 4 Pines Park |
| 3 | Roosters vs. Rabbitohs | Allianz Stadium |
| 4 | Roosters vs. Panthers | Allianz Stadium |
| 5 | Bulldogs vs. Roosters | Accor Stadium |
| 6 | Knights vs. Roosters | McDonald Jones Stadium |
| 7 | Roosters vs. Storm | Allianz Stadium |
| 8 | Dragons vs. Roosters | Allianz Stadium |
| 9 | Broncos vs. Roosters | Suncorp Stadium |
Sydney Roosters statement: Club reacts to Spencer Leniu ban
"On behalf of Spencer and the Sydney Roosters we apologise unreservedly to Ezra and his family for the hurt that has been caused and we extend this apology to the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community," the club's CEO Joe Kelly said in a statement following the hearing.
"Inclusivity and diversity are key and fundamental values of the Sydney Roosters and we respect equally all backgrounds and cultures and will not tolerate any form of racism.
"We accept the suspension to Spencer of eight weeks and would like to thank our legal counsel James McLeod for representing the club."
Kelly then went on to maintain Leniu didn't have racist intentions when he referred to Mam as a 'monkey'.
"I would like to acknowledge Spencer for the character he has shown over the past week," Kelly continued.
"He was totally honest from the outset and wanted to own this immediately. In no way did he mean to direct the term to Ezra in a racial way.
"Spencer has learnt a great deal from the past week and we will ensure that we continue to support him in any way we can and increase his education about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures."
What did Spencer Leniu say to Ezra Mam?
Ahead of Leniu's appearance at the NRL Judiciary, the forward apologised to Mam while admitting he called him a 'monkey'.
"I want to apologise to Ezra and his family for using the word I did and I am sincerely sorry to cause him such distress," Leniu said in a statement.
"I’ve put my hand up and want to take ownership of this. I said the word but I didn’t mean it in a racist way. Anyone who knows me knows that’s not who I am."
However, reports of an attempt at reconciliation before the hearing was shut down with Mam allegedly refusing to meet with Leniu face-to-face.
The incident, which occurred in the closing stages of the match between the two heavyweight sides, was criticised at the time by Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds.
"It's never nice to hear any racism slur or anything," Reynolds said post-match in America.
"In this day and age, you wouldn't think it's still out there, so it's a bit of a shock."
This sentiment was echoed by Broncos coach Kevin Walters who declared Mam had been left distraught in the sheds.
"He's pretty upset in there," Walters said.
Referee Adam Gee initially put the incident on report after the Brisbane five-eighth had come to him to lodge a formal complaint against Leniu.
"Ezra has made a formal complaint that’s racial in nature against Spencer," Gee told Roosters captain James Tedesco, while Reynolds and Mam were nearby in their vicinity.
Leniu then dismissed the claims post-match as "fun and banter" before becoming embroiled in a flare-up at the hotel where both teams were stationed at the time, after he crossed paths with Patrick Carrigan.
