Brisbane Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam stands by his decision to call out Spencer Leniu’s racial slur in Las Vegas and expresses his willingness to meet with Leniu when the timing is appropriate.
Mam, who proudly identifies as a Torres Strait Islander, addressed the issue for the first time since Leniu referred to him as a monkey during their round-one match. Mam filed a formal complaint regarding Leniu’s remarks, leading to Leniu’s subsequent suspension of eight games by the NRL judiciary.
When asked if he had any regrets regarding his actions, Mam firmly responded with a “no.”
“I take immense pride in my culture, and that’s something I will always stand up for. It’s my identity, and it’s the reason I am here,” Mam stated. Although he initially declined Leniu’s offer to meet in Brisbane, he expressed his readiness to do so in the future. “I believe that when the timing is right, we will have a conversation,” Mam added. He expressed appreciation for Leniu’s willingness to reach out, stating that he has moved on from the incident and would likely have a chat with him when they cross paths.
Mam received tremendous support from the Broncos club, his teammates, and notable players like Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Lote Tuqiri, and Steve Renouf. “It meant a lot to me and lifted my spirits to see other players stand up and reach out,” he acknowledged. Mam expressed his focus on playing good football and leaving the incident in the past. “It was a challenging time, but now I’m looking forward to being in the present. I won’t dwell on it any longer. I’ll focus on the season and strive to play my best,” Mam concluded.
The Brisbane Broncos received a significant morale boost during Tuesday’s training session as key players Adam Reynolds (hamstring), Payne Haas (knee), Brendan Piakura (ankle), and Deine Mariner (back) all participated strongly. This positive development comes ahead of their upcoming away match against the Wests Tigers on Saturday.
“It’s a tremendous confidence boost for the entire squad,” Mam remarked. He acknowledged the responsibility that falls on his shoulders in the absence of halfback Adam Reynolds. However, Mam expressed confidence in leading the team and delivering his best performance when Reynolds is not available.
Mam also highlighted the importance of the returning players, including Reynolds, in the upcoming game. Their presence is expected to further strengthen the team and contribute to a competitive match against the Wests Tigers.
