A RUGBY LEAGUE star has been hit with an eight week ban for calling an opponent a “monkey”.
Spencer Leniu launched the racist taunt towards Ezra Mam during the NRL‘s showpiece season-opener in Las Vegas.
Now the Samoa international, who was making his debut for Sydney Roosters, has been handed the severe punishment.
The NRL’s judiciary panel was told Brisbane star Mam “saw red” after the incident in the Roosters’ 20-10 win.
In a statement to the panel, he said: “I recall saying words to the effect of, ‘run it back at Spencer.’
“I then recall Spencer saying words ‘f*** up you monkey’.
“I saw red after that. I was so angry that my mind was no longer focused on the game.”
Leniu, who apologised, claimed he did not mean for the slur to come across in a racial manner.
The 23-year-old told the Sydney hearing it is not uncommon for his mates with same skin tone to call each other “blacky” and “black c***”.
However, a message from an Aboriginal woman at 6.30 the next morning outlined the definition of “monkey” and he realised what he had done.
NRL counsel Lachlan Gyles told the panel that they should treat Leniu favourably due to his genuine remorse but believes an eight-game ban is warranted because “racism should not be tolerated” and it is an opportunity to “draw a line in the sand” and “send a clear message”.
They also pointed out while trying Auckland-born Leniu: “Most people who have been in Australia for 15 years would know it might be racist to call someone monkey.”
The punishment will rule Leniu out until round 10 of the NRL, with Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly saying afterwards: “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.
“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.
“I would also like to acknowledge Spencer for the character he has shown over the past week. 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.
“We will also be supporting all of our Indigenous players at the club, and across the board, all staff and players will undergo further education of these cultures as well as the Pasifika culture.”
