Roosters prop Spencer Leniu has been embroiled in a second altercation with Broncos rival Ezra Mam as relations between the clubs hit rock bottom over the racism saga in Las Vegas.
This masthead can reveal Brisbane lock Pat Carrigan leapt to the defence of Mam after an enraged Leniu again verbally attacked the Broncos five-eighth at the Resorts World hotel at which both teams were staying.
The second Mam-Leniu stoush occurred in early hours of Sunday morning (local time), just hours after the Roosters enforcer was accused of calling the Broncos pivot a “monkey” in his side’s 20-10 victory at Allegiant Stadium.
Leniu has been formally charged by the NRL match review committee with contrary conduct and will front a judiciary hearing at League headquarters to determine his fate.
It is understood Leniu is facing an extended stint on the sidelines if found guilty, possibly up to two months, with ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys determined to take a zero-tolerance approach on racism in the code.
But the Leniu-Mam drama was not restricted to the field. It can be revealed Mam was verbally attacked for a second time by Leniu after a chance meeting between the parties that quickly became heated.
Well-placed sources say Brisbane trio Mam, Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs were returning to their rooms at Resorts World after the entire Broncos squad gathered for a meal in their team headquarters at the hotel.
The Broncos and Roosters squads were situated on the same floor of their Vegas hotel, with their respective team dining areas approximately 50 metres apart.
It is understood Staggs, Mam and Carrigan opted not to go out into the general casino floor downstairs, and also shunned alcohol, after being bitterly disappointed with Brisbane’s performance in the Roosters’ emphatic win.
As the trio began walking a long corridor to return to their rooms, they had an unexpected meeting with Leniu.
Still fired up over being placed on report for his alleged racial slur in the 69th minute of the round 1 blockbuster, Leniu first made a beeline for Staggs, who was walking slightly ahead of Mam and Carrigan.
It is understood the pair exchanged words, although at no stage was there a physical altercation.
That’s when Leniu spotted Mam and launched a tirade at the Indigenous playmaker, accusing the Broncos five-eighth of inflaming a situation that, in his eyes, should have stayed on the field.
As Leniu moved towards Mam, Carrigan jumped between the pair. A Roosters official was in the vicinity of the argument and pulled Leniu away to defuse the situation.
The Roosters forward will have a chance to tell his side of the story at the NRL’s judiciary hearing, likely to be scheduled later this week when the sides return to Australia.
Mam is standing by his version of events that he was racially abused. The 21-year-old is proud of his Indigenous heritage - he was part of an Aboriginal dance troupe that performed in traditional uniforms at Suncorp Stadium in 2021, a year before Mam made his NRL debut.
Mam’s family are advocates of First Nations rights and have played a role in the creation of the Deadly Choices program that aims to empower Indigenous people to improve their quality of life.
Mam is a Deadly Choices ambassador and is prepared to take a strong stand on racism.
Two Broncos players told coach Kevin Walters they heard the racial slur and they are prepared to back Mam’s claim at the NRL judiciary.
It is understood Broncos prop Payne Haas is one of the players who heard the Leniu comment that has sparked the latest NRL firestorm.
Walters helped console a distressed Mam in the sheds immediately after full-time and wants the NRL to come down hard on Leniu if the premiership-winning prop is found guilty of a racial slur.
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