Club Statement: Spencer Leniu - Leniu enters Guilty Plea

[theGman]

[QUOTE=Kelby;n1041329]



I would love to look at JT in the eyes and ask if he ever used racists / derogatory / inflammatory language on the field.

Duplicitous fool.

[/QUOTE
Skeletons would fall out of his closet that's for sure, especially the one from Coffs Harbour

[SamKerrSimp]

They should, as that is a racist slur.....now, clearly.

You're right mate it should be a minimum of 8 weeks as all racial remarks should be moving forward but I don't have faith the outrage will be there to hand down a ban of that magnitude.

[The Marshall]

True. Accepting a prepared written submission that possibly has been edited and embellished by some wordsmith or legal wit without question or cross examination makes a joke of the whole process IMO.

Not just a joke it’s a complete lack of natural justice. There is absolutely no way that an ex player and ref could determine based on the evidence tendered that the comment was racist without extensive additional investigation and expert opinion. This is a seriously flawed process driven by political correctness and a desire by the NRL to appease a special interest group. I am so disappointed in this outcome and even more in our clubs limp acceptance. Let’s add this to the disgraceful way Mitchell Pearce got 8 weeks for nothing. FTS

[mightyrooster]

So now that he’s been given 8 weeks, NRL 360 decides it’s time to add some balance to the story and question the length of the suspension and Lenui’s intent.

[The Marshall]

So now that he’s been given 8 weeks, NRL 360 decides it’s time to add some balance to the story and question the length of the suspension and Lenui’s intent.

Yep, the even up is on. Maybe all the brain dead PC brigade have caught on that Polynesian players and fans are a large chunk of the NRL demographic and a bit of understanding of there culture and social norms might have been useful
in the context of this case. The lynch mob that assembled around Spencer would have made the KKK envious. What a disgraceful racist undertone for a bunch of white and indigenous people to cast all knowing judgement on Polynesian people’s thoughts and motivations. Talk about racial profiling.

[QWERTY]

Some irony in that, on the one hand and I guess out if respect and decency, no-one would ever think about doubting Mam on one single thing that he said, including how upset he was as a result of the incident. We take his word on it. It's hammered into us that you white people don't know what it's like to be on the end of this stuff. Fair enough.

Then on the other hand, we have an NRL prosecutor straight out calling Leniu a liar, and bringing up incidents like Hrbajan Singh/Andrew Symonds (happened before Lenui was born) and Adam Goodes (happened when he's just moved here from Samoa and was 13) in his attempt to justify calling Leniu a liar.

Leniu is also a black man. Don't we then also have to then accept that we don't fully understand his circumstances and his beliefs either, just like we don't for Mam?

And so we therefore must respectfully believe Leniu as well?

No. They decided to call him a liar.

They could and should have given some understanding, give him 8 weeks if you farkin must, but let him walk out not being branded a liar. Could have said we take on board your explanation Spencer and the Court accepts your understanding as explained. We do however need to blbl blah blah, and you get 8 weeks

Inept and disgusting what they did.

Exactly. I posted something similar to what you're saying on this thread. At the end of the day, the 8 weeks suspension is finite compared to the stain the NRL have inflicted on Leinu's career for the remainder of his life.

[Johnny73]

I take it you are not a high profile person of an indigenous background Johnny?

Half my family is from Latvia and the other half from South Africa, so no. But are we not all equal under the law?

[rented tracksuit]

Half my family is from Latvia and the other half from South Africa, so no. But are we not all equal under the law?

I would like to say yes but I’m not sold.

[bondi.boy]

So now that he’s been given 8 weeks, NRL 360 decides it’s time to add some balance to the story and question the length of the suspension and Lenui’s intent.

It'd be hilarious if it weren't so serious.
You'd think he'd murdered someone, the way it's being sensationally reported.
His photo splashed everywhere.

[bondi.boy]

DT online reports today

States Sam Kerr allegedly called an attending police officer...well, you know.

Then states: " NSW MP John Ruddick took to parliament on Tuesday to label the police officer a 'sook' for complaining."

[Jacks Fur Coat]

It'd be hilarious if it weren't so serious.
You'd think he'd murdered someone, the way it's being sensationally reported.
His photo splashed everywhere.

All for being complained about (on a footy field no less) for uttering a single word..

It's a mad, mad world.

[ism22]

You're right mate it should be a minimum of 8 weeks as all racial remarks should be moving forward but I don't have faith the outrage will be there to hand down a ban of that magnitude.

Does this include for clumsy, white NRL staff who call him 'Spencer Luai', refer to him as 'Tongan' and then go on a rant about how a black dude knows nothing about racism? (All based on a letter from a bloke who didn't show up and refused to share the juicy parts of his submission... so 'just trust me on this one, bro!')

Sounds like the whole thing was an obnoxious episode of Monty Python that woulda been cancelled if it wasn't reality TV.

[mightyrooster]

It'd be hilarious if it weren't so serious.
You'd think he'd murdered someone, the way it's being sensationally reported.
His photo splashed everywhere.

The reporting is totally unbalanced. I believe he deserved a punishment but I think the length of that punishment and the way he has been lambasted in the media is ridiculous, including comments from current and former players. I also don’t believe he was aware of the degree of offence indigenous Australians view the word. I also believe that for a person of Polynesian heritage himself, it is very unfair of the NRL to label him a racist and a liar. Not to mention the hypocrisy and incompetence at getting his heritage and name wrong at the hearing.

[milanja]

DT online reports today

States Sam Kerr allegedly called an attending police officer...well, you know.

Then states: " NSW MP John Ruddick took to parliament on Tuesday to label the police officer a 'sook' for complaining."

He also defended Spencer in the article


The self-described libertarian drew NRL controversy into the fray as well, referencing Roosters prop Spencer Leniu’s use of the slur “monkey” directed at Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam earlier this month.

Leniu is of Samoan ancestry and Mam is of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

Leniu has been suspended for eight games.

“(Leniu) apparently used an unpleasant term in the rough and tumble of an NRL game, and then that was headlines for a few days. I say get over it! Abuse on the football field is as old as the football field,” Mr Ruddock said in parliament on Tuesday.

“Anti-racism has become a hysteria… We must stop the downward spiral of playing the race card to be cruel to people who make an error,” he said.

[BondiBob]

Great first impression for his new club and supporters and confirms the fears some of us had about his discipline and potential to do dumb shit that hurts the team.

Mate don’t sell him too short this was a mistake and because of all the media crap he has paid a big penalty we will be a far better team with Spencer fit and raring to go