Rugby league walking fine line over Leniu incident
In times like these rugby league walks a fine line.
On one side is Spencer Leniu and a fair judicial process he’s entitled to.
On the other is the long and painful evolution of the game over the past two decades to empower and support our Indigenous athletes. That growth has brought us to a place where players feel strong enough to stand up to many forms of racism within the game, to speak out for their culture and people – and rightly so.
Sydney Roosters prop Leniu has pleaded guilty to using a racial slur against Broncos fiveeighth Ezra Mam, and will face the NRL judiciary, chaired by Justice Geoffrey Bellew, on Monday night.
Indigenous players have every right to feel some type of way about the incident, and moreover, their considered comments on racism in sport should be welcomed. They will have no bearing on Leniu’s access to a fair hearing, and to say otherwise is laughable.
Justice Bellew is a former judge with the Supreme Court of NSW and chairman of the State Parole Authority, and has acted pragmatically in cases involving terrorism, people smuggling and narcotics importations. It’s insulting to his integrity to claim that media and social commentary surrounding this case will have any persuasion over the final verdict. Conversation and debate is how we grow.
On Sunday, Sport Integrity Australia CEO David Sharpe agreed, saying voices of powerful figures within the games should not be downplayed and commentary attempting to normalise or justify poor behaviour needs to be called out by leaders in the sport.
“Attitudes won’t change until the narrative changes,” Sharpe said in a statement.
“Sport and sponsors’ brands are being aligned with poor behaviours yet these brands have the power to drive a cultural shift to eradicate these poor behaviours.”
It follows public comments made by Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett calling out ‘drama queens’ and former rugby league great Anthony Mundine’s scathing attack on outspoken South Sydney fullback Latrell Mitchell.
Mitchell’s comments calling for a massive ban before Leniu pleaded guilty walked the line, but he’s not the bad guy here. Racism is.
“It is 2024, not 1924, and there must be zero tolerance when it comes to racism in sport,” Sharpe continued.
“Any inappropriate comments, whatever they are in nature, are not just a bit of ‘banter’ or ‘just fun and games on the field’. There are no excuses for slurs that could be interpreted as racist in nature. If the comments cause hurt, then intent is irrelevant. If the comments offend an individual, they also offend their families, their countries, their culture.”
He also pointed out that lengthy bans are handed out to fans found guilty of racist slurs, and the same should apply to athletes. As for public comment though, it’s reasonable that the NRL has not made any direct statement on the matter before the hearing is over.