Spencer Leniu ADMITS he racially abused Ezra Mam – and now faces a monster ban from footy

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‘s match review committee charged the 23-year-old with contrary conduct after Mam alleged he called him a ‘monkey’. 

In a worrying sign for Leniu, there was no grading on the charge, which was referred straight to a judicial hearing, indicating the seriousness of the act.

The forward has apologised to Mam after being placed on report in the 69th minute of the 20-10 win over Brisbane on Sunday after the 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) has also apologised to Ezra Mam

Mam (second from left) is pictured making the complaint of racial abuse during his team’s loss to the Roosters in Las Vegas last Sunday 

‘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,’ said Leniu.

‘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.’

Other Indigenous stars have come out during the week on social media calling for a huge ban, with NRL bosses declaring that any racial slurs will be dealt with harshly.

There have been calls for Leniu to be handed an eight-game ban, while Latrell Mitchell suggested on Instagram that the former Panther should be facing a longer stint out of the game.

Latrell Mitchell (pictured) called for Leniu to cop a ban of more than 12 weeks

It’s the first on-field racism complaint since Tyrone Peachey accused Mitchell Barnett of abusing him in 2020, although he avoided a ban due to a lack of evidence.

Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes said this would be a line in the sand moment for the NRL – before he knew Leniu had pleaded guilty – with the Indigenous All Stars playmaker calling on the game to come down hard on racism.

‘We have spectators and what not making racist comments sometimes and all us players don’t stand for it. So now this is the first time in a while it’s happened [on the field], so there just has to be,’ he said on Tuesday.

‘Even if it wasn’t Spencer, if it was someone else – I’m not just trying to put it all on Spencer – I feel like there needs to be a line in the sand and this will be the moment that it happens. It has to happen.’

All eyes will be on the judiciary next week, with Leniu set to learn the length of his ban just one game into his Roosters career.

The ex-Panther reportedly clashed with Mam and other Broncos players at the Vegas hotel the teams were staying at after the match.

He met Mam and his teammates Pat Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs, and launched into a rant at Mam over the accusation he made, according to reports.

In his apology to Mam (pictured, left) on Thursday, Leniu explained, ‘I said the word but I didn’t mean it in a racist way’

Carrigan got between the pair and a Roosters official took Leniu away from the confrontation, the publication reported.

Following the match, Leniu offered a bizarre 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 it,’ he said.

When pressed further on whether he was worried about the potential fallout, Leniu replied: ‘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 deepest 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 judiciary process. Accordingly, the club will not be making any further comment prior to the hearing.’