Broncs return serve
Brisbane ‘upset’ at slur claims
The Broncos have hit back at the Roosters over allegations a Brisbane player racially abused Spencer Leniu as club legend Steve Renouf applauded Ezra Mam for taking a strong stand on racism.
Brisbane were rocked by claims from the Roosters camp that an unnamed Broncos player was also guilty of firing a racial slur at Leniu during last week’s drama-charged clash in Las Vegas. Leniu has pleaded guilty to calling Brisbane’s Indigenous pivot a “monkey”, but the racism saga took a twist when it was alleged one of Mam’s teammates also fired a slur at the Roosters prop. Breaking the club’s silence on the allegation, Brisbane assistant coach Matt Ballin said the Broncos were keen to move on from the affair.
“I don’t think that (the allegation) really affects us, but it’s upsetting,” said Ballin.
“As a club we are supporting Ezra and making sure he is OK.
“That speaks volumes for this club and playing group, the way everyone has rallied around him and just got on with what we need to do and helped him in this tough time.”
Mam also found an ally in one of the code’s greatest Indigenous players, Steve Renouf, who has previously spoken about his own battles with racism in league.
Renouf, the Broncos’ alltime leading tryscorer, has been a long-time ambassador of the Deadly Choices program and applauded Mam for calling out Leniu’s racist comment.
“The good thing is how strongly Ezra stood up and he stood up for his people,” Renouf said. “That is amazing. Ezra has matured a lot in a short period of time, we saw his performance in the grand final last year, he has done this as a young man and there is a reason for that, because he grew up in a strong family. He stands up for what he believes in.
“I think we have all experienced racism and everyone handles it differently. I was brought up to go with it. I was brought up to be resilient, but times are changing.
“I see these young players within the NRL and they are speaking their mind and I say good on them.”
The Dolphins are believed to be weighing up a multimillion dollar play for North Queensland back rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki in a move that could have serious ramifications for two of their interstate rivals.
Finefeuiaki, off contract at the end of this season, is believed to be open to a switch of clubs after finding himself trapped behind Heilum Luki and Jeremiah Nanai for a starting spot at the Cowboys.
Sources close to the Cowboys confirmed they were bracing for the Dolphins to step up their pursuit of Finefeuiaki after their Queensland rivals failed with a mega-bid for Luki.
Luki, who entrenched himself as one of North Queensland’s starting second rowers with a big performance against the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, is expected to confirm a long-term deal with the Cowboys this week.
The Dragons were also monitoring Finefeuiaki but dropped off when they signed Luciano Leilua from the Cowboys. The Dolphins have now moved into pole position, although this masthead understands they are yet to make a formal offer for the 20-yearold. Finefeuiaki made his first
The Deadly Choices program has spread its tentacles to Roosters heartland, with Renouf having worked with the Bondi glamour club on improving the quality of life of Indigenous people.
“It’s a new partnership we have with the Roosters and they will learn from stuff like that,” Renouf said of the program.
Renouf believes the code can learn from the Leniu-Mam saga.
“It’s about everyone within rugby league and Australia getting that education (on racism),” he said. “Unfortunately there hasn’t been enough of that across the country. grade debut for the Cowboys last season and has chalked up 13 games in the top grade, scoring two tries and stamping himself as one of the most promising forwards in the game.
However, he has had to sit behind Luai and Jeremiah Nanai, both of whom have committed to the Cowboys on long-term deals.
The Dolphins would offer Finefeuiaki a starting spot next season as well as the chance to move back to southeast Queensland – he went to school in Ipswich after moving to Australia at the age of 11.
His future is set to have an impact for Melbourne and the Wests Tigers. The Cowboys are believed to be monitoring Storm back rower Jack Howarth, having identified him as a player who could help replenish their back row stocks should they need more depth in the position.
Howarth, is signed to a longterm deal in Melbourne but has struggled to crack the starting side, having played only one game in first grade.
Should the Cowboys step up their interest and the Storm allow him to leave, it would free up salary cap space for Melbourne to launch a bid for Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu.
Utoikamanu has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave at the end of the season should the Tigers miss the finals.