Johnathan Thurston says rugby league has missed an opportunity to send an unequivocal message that racial abuse will not be tolerated in the game.
Thurston, an Indigenous leader in the game, said an opportunity to take a stand against racism had been lost, and that he believed a 12-week suspension would have been more appropriate for the hurt it has caused Mam and First Nations people.
“I was looking at, probably 12 weeks would have been sufficient for racial vilification on the field,” Thurston said. “I understand that he’s owned up to what he has said, but the NRL, we have the Indigenous All Stars match, we have the Indigenous round, they have an NRL Indigenous strategy team, so we’re saying and doing all the right things but I definitely don’t think that the crime has fit the punishment.” Leniu’s ban is the longest the NRL has issued for contrary conduct. Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya, the last player to front the judiciary over an on-field remark, was banned for four matchesThurston said the incident had opened up wounds for Mam and the Indigenous community.“I was quite emotional talking about it,” Thurston said. “It opened up a lot of scars for our people, and I know that Spencer’s come out, he’s owned it like he has, he’s apologised to Ezra, I understand he wants to have a face-to-face meeting with Ezra as well. “I spoke to Ezra after the match to check on him, on his wellbeing. He was pretty shattered about it all. He’s got great family support around him, there’s players around him as well.“I thought, as the NRL, it was a great opportunity to make a statement – and I don’t think the eight weeks is sufficient.”“It’s been quite difficult over the last couple of weeks. Like I said, I checked on Ezra to see how he is, and also you’ve got to check on Spencer as well and see how he’s doing. “I understand he’s copped a fair bit of abuse for it as well, but this is certainly an education piece as well that we need to make sure that both parties are being supported.”, where he apologised for calling Mam a “monkey” and said he was not aware the slur was racial in nature. “I thought it was one brown man sledging another brown man ... I’m happy he brought this up. I have no racial intent towards Ezra or the Indigenous community,” Leniu said.“There’s only one way that that term is used, and that’s racially,” he said. “Like I said, the NRL had a great opportunity to make a stand, not only for the game, but for society as well. “I think sports people are held to a higher standard than the rest of the community, but I think the game has failed in this instance. I don’t think the eight weeks is sufficient for what has been said and the mental scars that have been brought up and what our culture has endured over the history since colonisation.”
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