SMILING LENIU ‘VERY HAPPY’ TO BE HOME AFTER ALLEGED RACISM SCANDAL
Sydney Roosters prop Spencer Leniu was all smiles and “very happy” to be arriving back home alongside teammates, as he awaits the outcome of the charges for his alleged racial slur against Brisbane’s Ezra Mam.
The Sydney Roosters squad – including Leniu, touched down in Sydney on Tuesday morning following their 20-10 victory over the Broncos in Las Vegas over the weekend.
“I’m very happy to be home,” the 23-year-old said in the arrivals terminal surrounded by media, Roosters staff, fans and a small police presence.
He made no further comment on the alleged “monkey” slur or incident at the resort the two clubs were staying at while overseas.
“I’m not allowed to comment on that right now,” he said.
Alongside the full squad including captain James Tedesco and coach Trent Robinson, were a plethora of rugby league greats, celebrities and Sydney based socialites.
Among them was ARL Commission chair Peter
V’landys who said he believed the allegations against Leniu did not tarnish an otherwise “successful” event.
“I don’t think it’s tarnished anything. I think it’s been a massive success for Australia and the game,” he said.
“It’s built a foundation for us to build on. It was an unbelievable atmosphere and the Americans got a taste of rugby league and we’re the talk everywhere in America at the moment.
“Unfortunately, we had an incident on the field but we’ll let the process happen and the player deserves due process and natural justice and he should have every opportunity to defend himself.
Despite acknowledging the NRL had to confirm whether Leniu “actually did say” the alleged slur, V’landys said the ARL has “zero tolerance” for racism.
“I will say however, we will not tolerate racism in any level whatsoever,” he said.
“If he did happen to say something like that (slur) it will be dealt with.”
V’landys said he had been in touch with Broncos star Mam following the on-field incident.
“He’s certainly done it very tough, no doubt about that,” he said. “He’s taken it very, very hard and I can understand that.
“He’s a great player and a great human being. We all have feelings, we all have sensitivities and people should think before they say things to anybody. “Your words do hurt.” V’landys said he was “not really” disappointed the weekend had been hit with allegations of misconduct.
“These things happen. We expect some things are going to happen,” he said.
The ARL boss said the experience overall in Vegas was personally “surreal”.
“I didn’t think we would have as much success as we had in the first year,” he said.
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