Kevvie Walters fires up at reporters over Ezra Mam questions after Leniu drama

Brisbane coach Kevvie Walters has taken aim at a reporter after questions over how Ezra Mam has held up after the Spencer Leniu drama. An Indigenous NRL player, Mam was called a 'monkey' by Spencer Leniu during the Broncos' clash with the Roosters on the opening weekend of the season in Las Vegas.

Leniu fronted the NRL judiciary on Monday night and was hit with an eight-game suspension. The panel rejected Leniu's claim that he didn't realise the racial connotations around the word 'monkey'.

The ordeal has dragged on because the Broncos and Roosters played a week earlier than most teams in Las Vegas and had to wait for round one to end, which came the following weekend. This meant the NRL tribunal did not come together until all teams played had played.

And when asked about Leniu's suspension, Walters quickly attempted to shut down the question to not weigh-in on the decision. "I don't want to talk about the suspension," Walters hit back. Mam has stayed silent and remained training having received the backing of many players throughout the ordeal.

The Broncos play the Rabbitohs on Thursday in a huge clash with both teams coming off a loss. And Walters was asked about how Mam had trained while the NRL tribunal took place earlier in the week.

This didn't sit well with the coach. "Well you watch training, what do you think?" Walters said. Walters didn't want to talk about Leniu's suspension, but did elaborate about Mam and their return home to Brisbane.

“We put it (the Mam-Leniu saga) to bed at the end of last week when it was handed over to the NRL,” Walters added. “Our focus the last three and four days has been on the game.g

“It’s nice to get back to Suncorp, especially for our fans, being away for the first period of the season in Vegas. This game is really important for us as a club. We need our focus in the right direction rather than looking too far ahead.”

Johnathan Thurston slams NRL judiciary over Leniu ban

There have been plenty of past and present players giving their thoughts on the Leniu drama over the last week and one of the highest-profile greats to speak out is Johnathan Thurston. The Indigenous icon was critical of the eight-week suspension and feels the game missed an opportunity to take a harder stance.

"I was looking at probably 12 weeks... for racial vilification on the field," Thurston said on Channel Nine's Today. "I understand he has owned up to what he said, but the NRL - we have the Indigenous All Stars match, we have Indigenous Round, NRL Indigenous strategy team. So we're saying and doing all the right things, but I definitely don't think the punishment has fit the crime.

"I'm quite emotional talking about it, it's certainly opened up a lot of scars for our people. I spoke to Ezra after the match to check on his wellbeing, he was pretty shattered about it all.

"I thought it was a great opportunity to make a statement and I don't think the eight weeks is sufficient. The NRL had a great opportunity to make a stand - not only for the game but for society as well. I think the game has failed in this instance."

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