‘When the time is right’: Mam’s olive branch
Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam says he will meet up with Spencer Leniu when the time is right, declaring he has no regrets for calling out the Roosters prop and making an official complaint after he was called “a monkey” during the historic double-header in Las Vegas.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the incident, Mam says he was rocked by the racial abuse on the field that prompted him to call it out during the game.
Leniu later admitted to making the comment and was suspended for eight matches, although he was adamant that it wasn’t intended as a racial slur.
“I just stuck to what my beliefs are and how I was brought up as a strong cultural man,” Mam, a proud Torres Strait Islander, said.
“If there’s anything I’m proud of, it’s my culture and that’s what I’m going to stick up for.
“It’s what I stick up for, it’s my identity and that’s the reason why I am here.”
The slur led to a number of Indigenous players voicing their support for Mam on social media, with NRL legend Johnathan Thurston disappointed that Leniu wasn’t banned for 12 weeks.
“It was definitely a huge thing for other players to come out on behalf of me and reach out to me,” he said.
“It lifted me up and lifted my spirits up. It’s good to see all the Indigenous and non-Indigenous players reach out to me.
“I will just play good footy now, it was a long time ago.”
Leniu told the judiciary panel that he had offered to meet with Mam in Brisbane to discuss what had happened, but the Broncos star rejected the invitation.
However, he is open to meeting with Leniu eventually.
“When the time is right, we will have a chat,” Mam said.
“I appreciate that he wanted to come up and reach out to me.
“Obviously, I have moved on from that now. I will probably just have a chat to him when I see him or whenever it is.”
Mam wants to move on from the incident, starting this Saturday when the Broncos travel to Sydney to take on the Wests Tigers.
The five-eighth is coming off his best game of the season against Canberra, and his job will be made easier with experienced halfback Adam Reynolds expected to return from injury.
“I had a couple of involvements last year where I thought I was pretty good. I haven’t got back to my best footy at the moment yet this year,” he said.
“It is just a matter of finding that balance and taking my opportunities.
“It’s always a bit of a responsibility for myself when ‘Reyno’ isn’t there.
“It’s a big confidence boost for myself to lead the boys around and try and put my best footy together when he isn’t there.
“It will be a huge boost having him back in the team.”