Animals and sledging.

[bondi.boy]

By calling someone a dog, cat or pussy you’re typically referring to someone’s behaviour. The accusations made by Mam in regards to being called a monkey are relation in the way someone looks.

Behaviour is optional, your morphological appearance is not. Out of respect I always try to avoid commenting negatively on the way anyone looks unless I have a good enough relationship with that person to have a bit of a joke with them.

Whilst all being “animals” I think there is clearly a different impact of the words being used.

And equal to context I think intent matters just as much, from the comments I’ve seen Leniu make I think it’s purely ignorance on his behalf. I don’t think there was any malicious intent, he misread the situation and to him it was just banter he never intended for it to be malicious.

Agree.
In today's woke world I think it's best not to call anyone names, animal, bird or anything else.

[milanja]

Did anything come of league hating journalist PF calling a black South African official a gorilla when he shoved a journalist? He back tracked quickly and said in Australia the term “gorilla” is what we call security guards, and not at all racial?

I’ve never heard a security guard referred to as a gorilla.

If leniu did say what is reported to Mam, it would of been good if he tried to make amends after the incident.

his cousin is doing him no favours by posting crap on social media, it’s only gonna get worse.

plenty of people are also bringing teddys “squid game” comments up again now too, starting to look bad for us.

must be a marketing nightmare with the roosters playing manly next round, the anti rainbows v alleged racists.

[milanja]

Fatrell wants him to get half the season.

I sense a NRL stich up coming.............

Is there any precedence in other sports where a certain amount of weeks has been given?

[Easts75]

Fatrell wants him to get half the season.

I sense a NRL stich up coming.............

On the footy side of things, if i had to pick one of our forwards to miss a bunch of games I'd pick Leniu. We can cover him easily enough. Nat Butcher could and has easily filled the middle forward roll before

[Waylander]

Professor Dawkins told me we were all monkeys. Now I'm really confused.

Some people are terribly precious, and some people have very thick skins. Offense can only be taken, not given. You can try to offend someone and fail dismally, and you can equally not try at all and yet do so spectacularly. How then is the onus solely on the speaker to not cause offense? The N word is thrown around constantly these days by coloured folf referring to themselves and their brethran. Spencer is Samoan and has probably been called this himself, perhaps his defense should be he was simply trying to "reclaim" the word, just like the coloured rappers have "reclaimed" the N word.

[Mickie Lane]

Is there any precedence in other sports where a certain amount of weeks has been given?

Josh Maquire was given 12 weeks for calling someone in the Super League a monkey.

[Bates]

By calling someone a dog, cat or pussy you’re typically referring to someone’s behaviour. The accusations made by Mam in regards to being called a monkey are relation in the way someone looks.

Behaviour is optional, your morphological appearance is not. Out of respect I always try to avoid commenting negatively on the way anyone looks unless I have a good enough relationship with that person to have a bit of a joke with them.

Whilst all being “animals” I think there is clearly a different impact of the words being used.

And equal to context I think intent matters just as much, from the comments I’ve seen Leniu make I think it’s purely ignorance on his behalf. I don’t think there was any malicious intent, he misread the situation and to him it was just banter he never intended for it to be malicious.

Could you be cited for calling Latrell Mitchell a fat or overweight pig or said player with big ears Dumbo the elephant?

Where does one draw a line?

[Vasco]

Oh FFS another supporter calling for a suspension with zero demonstrable evidence thus far shown against Spencer

Do you honestly think he didn't say anything?

[dice]

By calling someone a dog, cat or pussy you’re typically referring to someone’s behaviour. The accusations made by Mam in regards to being called a monkey are relation in the way someone looks.

It is not always that clear. I recall young girls often calling boys "a big ape" regardless of race. Mothers often say, "monkey see monkey do". Imagine a mother making that reference to the behaviour a black child. For all we know, even if Leniu said the word it could have been a reference to Mam's taunting behaviour.

NRL would still hammer Leniu if it was a behavioural reference. It is like the latest codes from woke HR that intent doesn't matter, the only thing that matters is if a person takes offence to the language. To that I say GAGF, if you can't take it then don't dish it.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

If they don't find any audio, he gets off. If the ref heard nothing, no way they can find him guilty solely on the say-so of opposition players.

Regardless, how absurd it'll be if gets 8+ weeks like they're suggesting, when dangerous violent attacks including head slams can get a fine or a couple of weeks at most.

Things get said in the heat of battle. Imagine some of the things Mitchell would have said to white players. If it's a first offence, you should be allowed to admit it, apologise, maybe a fine, and we move on. Heard today there is very little precedent for the judiciary. Gallen was found guilty of racial vilification in 2012 and got a $10,000 fine.

I'm tipping no audio so no evidence

[Vasco]

If they don't find any audio, he gets off. If the ref heard nothing, no way they can find him guilty solely on the say-so of opposition players.

Regardless, how absurd it'll be if gets 8+ weeks like they're suggesting, when dangerous violent attacks including head slams can get a fine or a couple of weeks at most.

Things get said in the heat of battle. Imagine some of the things Mitchell would have said to white players. If it's a first offence, you should be allowed to admit it, apologise, maybe a fine, and we move on. Heard today there is very little precedent for the judiciary. Gallen was found guilty of racial vilification in 2012 and got a $10,000 fine.

I'm tipping no audio so no evidence

You'd think so but the pressure will be on the NRL to make a statement.

[Bates]

You'd think so but the pressure will be on the NRL to make a statement.

The NRL also has to be careful! If they over step the mark JUST to make a statement, Spencer and his defence can escalate things beyond the MRC.

Me thinks the NRL don't have the balls!

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Professor Dawkins told me we were all monkeys. Now I'm really confused.

Some people are terribly precious, and some people have very thick skins. Offense can only be taken, not given. You can try to offend someone and fail dismally, and you can equally not try at all and yet do so spectacularly. How then is the onus solely on the speaker to not cause offense? The N word is thrown around constantly these days by coloured folf referring to themselves and their brethran. Spencer is Samoan and has probably been called this himself, perhaps his defense should be he was simply trying to "reclaim" the word, just like the coloured rappers have "reclaimed" the N word.

One of the most thoughtful pieces I've read on this topic Waylander..."Offense can only be taken, not given". That cuts to the chase brilliantly.

It emphasises to me that the 'causal' moment for all this was not what Spencer may have said, but Ezras complaint being lodged. That was the real game changer.

[Eggspert]

This is honestly ridiculous.

Could turn into a case of he said she said without actually audio.

Maybe just maybe he called him that because Monkeys are hairy & he's got facial hair & thick hair.

What about Toops being called a giraffe all the time.

Where does it stop?

[Kentucky_Fried_Rooster]

I’m old school and prefer things to stay on the field.
But racism doesn’t belong in the game and if they have to dish out harsh penalties to stamp it out so be it.

Those calling it nothing and not worth any time on the sidelines would still feel the same if the situation was reversed. I see it here often where we want the book thrown at an opposition player but when it’s our own doing it the NRL are over reacting.