Club Statement: Spencer Leniu - Leniu enters Guilty Plea

[Andrew Walker]

Farian is triggered.

Kebabs at 2am anyone?

I’m more a coffee at 11am kinda guy

[Dr. Voodoo Man]

I’m more a coffee at 11am kinda guy

I like to duel at dawn personally

[OMR]

I like to duel at dawn personally

on the golf course as the sun is rising on the first tee

[Dr. Voodoo Man]

on the golf course as the sun is rising on the first tee

perfect!

[ism22]

When reading the statement I noticed that Spencer said:

"I've put my hand up and want to take ownership of this.
"I said the word but I didn't mean it in a racist way. Anyone who knows me knows that's not who I am."

No surprises with this comment but I wonder if his intent to not be racist will come into consideration when the punishment is handed out.

I would hope so. While it's not a court, most crimes require what's now called a 'physical element' and a 'fault element' (yes the old latin phrase actus reus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea... the act is not guilty unless the mind is guilty).

Stressing that I'm no expert or authority in racial hate crimes, I think an inherent feature of this claim is that Leniu's black and he may well have been using the word 'monkey' in the same way as is commonly used to call people a 'clown' or a 'goose' (e.g. 'get up you cheeky bugger and stop trying to milk a penalty!!! I schooled you in the GF and I'll school you again you bloody sook!!!!')

To me the context is such that it would be very difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Leniu calling Mam a monkey was intended to offend or insult him BECAUSE of his race. The CONTEXT was that Mam had tried running the ball while the ref and a few players were distracted (by Walsh appealing for a penalty)... and then straight after being tackled he lay down trying to milk a penalty.

To me in this context, a reasonable interpretation would be that Leniu's INTENTION was to say 'oh FFS stop playing around!!! It was a cheeky run, you're on your arse now and it was a fair tackle... DEAL WITH IT LIKE A MAN AND STOP MONKEYING AROUND!!!!'

I wasn't there and I'm not indigenous. However IMO we're talking about a technicality here (i.e. no intent or context... captured purely due to a zero tolerance policy regarding ANYTHING that could be interpreted as being racist, no matter what colour you are). It was NOT an ugly, racially-motivated attack on a player by a nasty piece of white trash. IMO any punishment needs to be proportionate... I'd suggest that an apology letter and a donation to an indigenous charity would be adequate. 12 Weeks? Nah.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Anthony "Choc" Mundine has weighed into the debate telling Ezra Mam to "toughen up". He didn't consider the comment made as racist.

And now my head hurts.

[Team Evil]

‘It ain’t racism’: Anthony Mundine says Spencer Leniu slur to Ezra Mam should be brushed off


“I just wanted to put my 2c piece about the Ezra Mam controversy, about racism,” Mundine said.

“I mean, it ain’t racism.

“When two brothers are brown or black fellas, you can slur each other, you call them a ‘black c’ or this and that, that’s what they are.

“It’s like African-American and another African-American calling each other the n-word.

“I think they outta toughen up in that sense. It’s not racism.”

[ism22]

Anthony "Choc" Mundine has weighed into the debate telling Ezra Mam to "toughen up". He didn't consider the comment made as racist.

And now my head hurts.

Mundine...

“I just wanted to put my 2c piece about the Ezra Mam controversy … I mean, it ain’t racism."

"When two brothers are brown or black fellas, you can slur each other, you call them a ‘black c’ or this and that, that’s what they are. It’s like African-American and another African-American calling each other the n-word. I think they toughen up in that sense. It’s not racism."

“A white fella saying it to a black fella, that’s a different story. That’s a whole different kettle of fish. Then you can really say that’s blatant racism. But another black fella or brown fella saying it to another brown fella? Come on, bra. You’ve got to take it on the chin. That’s what we have done all our lives, growing up.”

[Team Evil]

This is the problem with people today, what one person perceives as racist another would just brush it off.

I truly believe Spencer nether even thought he was making a racist statement.

This is where common sense should come in regarding his punishment.

He has already copped so much, surly he has learnt his lesson.

A fine and suspended sentence would be appropriate.

But I have concerns they want to "make a statement"

[QWERTY]

Anthony "Choc" Mundine has weighed into the debate telling Ezra Mam to "toughen up". He didn't consider the comment made as racist.

And now my head hurts.

I’m quite shocked that he’s defending Leniu, didn’t see that one coming lol.

[Team Evil]

And anyway, the Broncos were just after a penalty Mam just got caught up in it all.
It wasn't even Mam going off it was Walters a white guy trying to make something out of not very much.
Go back and watch the video.

[HDTONE]

One of my kids works in PR and says when stuff happens to get out in front of it.

Look hate what he's done but all of us have to own the stuff we do. So he's put his hands up apologised.........what else ???

Well don't be the hothead that costs us because the brain don't think 1st. We can't have this shite when we've got such a good side and have so much form with some players.

Onwards and upwards

[Dr. Voodoo Man]

Mundine...

“I just wanted to put my 2c piece about the Ezra Mam controversy … I mean, it ain’t racism."

"When two brothers are brown or black fellas, you can slur each other, you call them a ‘black c’ or this and that, that’s what they are. It’s like African-American and another African-American calling each other the n-word. I think they toughen up in that sense. It’s not racism."

“A white fella saying it to a black fella, that’s a different story. That’s a whole different kettle of fish. Then you can really say that’s blatant racism. But another black fella or brown fella saying it to another brown fella? Come on, bra. You’ve got to take it on the chin. That’s what we have done all our lives, growing up.”

Choc the voice of reason.

[bondi.boy]

Leniu likely won't be playing for a while.
He could've been injured instead and be unabled to play.
So we select a replacement, train, prepare, and travel to play Manly on their home ground.
Hard to beat them there, even with Leniu in the team.

Same deal as Vegas...we'll have to play our very best footy to win.
Manly scored a lot of points against Souths.
To win we must stop that from happening.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

WTF are you talking about? Sam Kerr is NOT indigenous, , she is part Indian.

I stand corrected. I reckon I'm not the only person who thought that. I remember her running around at the Olympics waving an indigenous flag. Have a look at all the roles her now in prison brother had with various indigenous bodies back in his west coast days. Keep your shirt on bro