Club Statement: Spencer Leniu - Leniu enters Guilty Plea

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Unfortunately they'll make an example of him.

8 to 12 weeks Imo.

No chance. That might be right if he plead not guilty and was found guilty.

I reckon he'll get 4 or 5 weeks.

I agree with the poster who said 2-3 is fair. Given the honesty and the remorse, that is absolutely fair. Compared to the way too light sentences they give for violent, injury causing offences. They can send a message here the NRL about admitting and owning your mistakes. Which if they're fair dinkum is probably how you overcome racism. But he'll get a couple of extra weeks just so they're seen to be tough on racism.

At the same time Sam Kerr is pleading not guilty and has lawyers trying to beat her racism charge on a technicality, the Roosters have owned up and taken responsibility.

Great response from the club, and we'll get some well deserved respect from some quarters.

[Kelby]

Why unfortunately? He deserves whatever he gets.

WOW.

For one word in the heat of battle?


Yet Latrell gets 5 weeks for smashing Manu's face in!

[theGman]

mate they are going to rat**** him for 12 weeks based off the truth.

admitting guilt in a case where your accuser has limited evidence is never a smart move

A little white lie helps the defence.
Surely, he could have concocted something like - "stop monkeying around"

[Jacks Fur Coat]

No chance. That might be right if he plead not guilty and was found guilty.

I reckon he'll get 4 or 5 weeks.

I agree with the poster who said 2-3 is fair. Given the honesty and the remorse, that is absolutely fair. Compared to the way too light sentences they give for violent, injury causing offences. They can send a message here the NRL about admitting and owning your mistakes. Which if they're fair dinkum is probably how you overcome racism. But he'll get a couple of extra weeks just so they're seen to be tough on racism.

At the same time Sam Kerr is pleading not guilty and has lawyers trying to beat her racism charge on a technicality, the Roosters have owned up and taken responsibility.

Great response from the club, and we'll get some well deserved respect from some quarters.

I think Kerrs team is arguing that, although she may have said it, there was no malice or bad intent from the words.

Spencer could genuinely state the same, even in trying to seek a lighter sentence.

I still think whatever Mam said that led to Spencers monkey quote should be aired. Would like to see the provocation and compare the barbs traded side by side.

[mightyrooster]

Me too, if he said it.
I'd say he was asked the question by those who rule.
He's owned up to his mistake, apologised, and a sentence will be delivered by the 'court'.
This is actually a very good thing, and will be the making of a good Roosterman for the future.

If he didn’t say it the club wouldn’t force him to plead guilty to something he’s not guilty of imo. Just got to hope the sentence is proportionate to the ‘crime’ and not a ridiculously over the top suspension like the Mitch Pearce one years ago.

[milanja]

I think Kerrs team is arguing that, although she may have said it, there was no malice or bad intent from the words.

Spencer could genuinely state the same, even in trying to seek a lighter sentence.

I still think whatever Mam said that led to Spencers monkey quote should be aired. Would like to see the provocation and compare the barbs traded side by side.

Or to hear what Spencer, said to Mam, for Mam to retaliate,for then Spencer to say what he said. It could have been going from the start of the match, leading from last years GF, or it could have been a one off.

we should just let it go now, until his life sentence it ruled, and then we can start all over again

[Roosterfarian]

Because he called someone monkey? What a load of rot.

How about you walk through the streets and call an indigenous a monkey, keyboard warrior. Bet you’d be weak as piss.

[rented tracksuit]

No chance. That might be right if he plead not guilty and was found guilty.

I reckon he'll get 4 or 5 weeks.

I agree with the poster who said 2-3 is fair. Given the honesty and the remorse, that is absolutely fair. Compared to the way too light sentences they give for violent, injury causing offences. They can send a message here the NRL about admitting and owning your mistakes. Which if they're fair dinkum is probably how you overcome racism. But he'll get a couple of extra weeks just so they're seen to be tough on racism.

At the same time Sam Kerr is pleading not guilty and has lawyers trying to beat her racism charge on a technicality, the Roosters have owned up and taken responsibility.

Great response from the club, and we'll get some well deserved respect from some quarters.

Channel Nein this morning saying Kerr’s racist comments were technically racist but not really racist.

Load of bollocks. Big white hairy bollocks!

[rented tracksuit]

How about you walk through the streets and call an indigenous a monkey, keyboard warrior. Bet you’d be weak as piss.

Ask this guy. He did it and survived.

https://images.app.goo.gl/aJMiEqTuqva6zsZV7

[SamKerrSimp]

Roosterfarian's comments are a breath of fresh air on this subject after some of the dross posted recently.

It's very disappointing that Spencer Leniu has aimed a racial slur at another player, I suppose that he can be commended for owning up to it and I hope he is punished but then forgiven by those who are calling for his head and allowed to reflect and change his behaviour.

I believe that the NRL will give him a suspension of at least 8 weeks and probably around the 12 week mark Peter Vlandys was very adamant they will come down tough on racism and after a very successful Las Vegas weekend it will be an easy PR goal to sit Spencer Leniu out for a long time and I wouldn't mind betting that Vlandys instructs the judiciary on how long to make the suspension.

[roosterchook]

If we all really want to win another premiership soon then our players need to stop getting suspended. Unlike injuries we can control these things.

[ism22]

mate they are going to rat**** him for 12 weeks based off the truth.

admitting guilt in a case where your accuser has limited evidence is never a smart move

IMO this came down to the possible corporate backlash if you read his PR-approved statement. The club does not support racism and he's sorry for any hurt that Mam or indigenous Australians / Torres Strait Islanders may have felt from this incident.

BUT... as he notes (and I share this opinion)... he notes there was no intention for this to be taken as a racial slur. He's a man of colour himself and IMO it's quite ludicrous how much attention this has brought to him & the club.

From a corporate perspective I think the best (only) way forward was for him to say sorry and let it settle.

As a fan I'm sorry if any indigenous Australians (including Mam) were REALLY offended by this. However, I'm with Spencer on this one. The word monkey has a LOT of different meanings and I think you're drawing a VERY long bow to suggest that Leniu was making a broader, racially motivated comment about the intelligence / evolutionary status of black people (unless this was some sorta self deprecating humour).

Ezra - if you were really just trying to milk a penalty and were sad that your team lost then that's on your conscience. We'll take whatever punishment's dished out so that everybody can move on. Looking forward to towelling you again (and Latrell) on the field. After one okay season you're heavily over-rated and you got schooled by the big boys. GET USED TO IT because we're not the only team that'll be schooling the Broncos this season.

[Danish]

How about you walk through the streets and call an indigenous a monkey, keyboard warrior. Bet you’d be weak as piss.

any adult man who’d physically assault someone for calling them a name is a loser

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Channel Nein this morning saying Kerry’s racist comments were technically racist but not really racist.

Load of bollocks. Big white hairy bollocks!

They asked the leader of our State no less, Chris Minns, whether Sam Kerrs comments were racist and he replied "No".

So she's open slather on those Whiteys guys, knock yourself out!

Way to bring a nation together....fk me swingin.

[ism22]

How about you walk through the streets and call an indigenous a monkey, keyboard warrior. Bet you’d be weak as piss.

That's why context is all though. Two scenarios...

1. If you're a piece of white trash who walks through Redfern yelling targeted racial slurs at random locals then you deserve what whatever punishment's waiting there for you. NOBODY supports this sort of behaviour.

2. If two guys with similar skin tones are giving each other a spray on the footy field and one uses the word 'monkey' as an alternative to far more vulgar words (which I have no doubt players get away with every day) then it's not the same thing. It legitimately means 'clown' or 'copycat'.

They were on a footy field, they were both of colour and I think it's drawing a REALLY long bow to suggest that he was using the word monkey to suggest that black people are a primitive, sub-human species.

So... maybe try being a black guy... playing professional footy... and calling a guy a monkey when he lies down, attempting to milk a penalty. The result may be different from if some white bogan walks around Redfern telling a bunch of indigenous people they're part of a primitive sub-species.

I appreciate that indigenous Australians have copped way more discrimination than Australian Italians. However my dad was kicked outta the country and called all sorts of things. If somebody calls me a 'wog' then CONTEXT is important!!! There is a significant difference between some dickhead trying to use it to degrade me and somebody using it to suggest I've been a little bit too slick with my lawyering / business deals (e.g. 'that's why we hired a wog for this job' or 'oh you ****ing wogs and your investment properties'). If they are ALSO a wog (not necessarily Italian) then it's safe for me to assume they're not attacking wogs.

This whole thing irks me. I really don't wanna offend anybody but surely commonsense says that the context and intention plays out here...