Fresh vision has emerged of Roosters front-rower Spencer Leniu’s stunning on-field confrontation with NRL legend Johnathan Thurston on Friday night.
Leniu and Thurston had two dramatic confrontations during the Roosters’ 26-16 win over the Broncos, with the altercation stemming from the racism scandal that involved the prop when the sides met in the 2024 season opener in Las Vegas.
New footage surfaced on Saturday afternoon that showed an animated Leniu giving it to Thurston at full-time on the Suncorp Stadium sideline as the Roosters’ media manager tried to pull him away.
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According to Channel Nine’s Michael Chammas, Thurston approached Leniu following the Roosters’ win in response to the prop spraying him after being substituted late in the game.
Leniu then took another swipe at Thurston on social media following claims he abused the NRL legend during a spiteful clash with the Broncos on Friday night.
In a post on Instagram, Leniu denied approaching Thurston and launched a fresh attack at the Maroons great.
“I never wanted to talk to JT. He kept trying to come speak to me,” part of the Leniu’s caption said.
“Lad (I don’t care) that you hate me for what I did. But don’t come up to me asking me questions like we’re (all good).”
“Don’t be two face (sic). Hate me lad I’m ‘eetswa’ (sweet) with that. But don’t be fake. “I hate fake people.”
Thurston, meanwhile, issued a statement to the SMH on Saturday afternoon, which read: “Let me start by saying I was shocked by what unfolded Friday night.
“On a podcast 12 months ago, I made a comment on the penalty issued to Spencer Leniu by the NRL in regards to racial comments he had made.
“As a proud Indigenous man, I clearly do not endorse Spencer’s remark in Las Vegas last year. However, the comments I made were an opinion on the penalty he was given and it is an opinion I stand by.
“As Spencer left the field during last night’s match he made an abusive comment to me, which took me and those around me by surprise.
“The comment was not of a racial nature but was overly aggressive in tone and unwarranted.
“After the match, I approached Spencer on the field to seek clarity on what he said and why he had said it. Spencer was again overly aggressive, and it became clear that he had interpreted the comments I made 12 months ago as a personal attack on him which was not the case.
“A further conversation took place later with Roosters officials and Spencer outside the sheds. I remain available if Spencer or the Roosters would like to discuss this matter privately.”
Leniu allegedly called Thurston a “f***wit” after coming from the field with about 20 minutes remaining on Friday night, while the former Cowboys halfback was commentating for Channel 9.
Nine Newspapers reported that during another clash after full-time, Leniu allegedly called Thurston a “f***ing c***”.
Thurston reportedly responded: “What’s your problem?”
Broncos star Ben Hunt was seen trying to intervene during the exchange after full-time, while Roosters forward Siua Wong also reportedly tried to curb Leniu.
Thurston later refused to enter the Roosters’ sheds for post-match interviews having been rattled by the incident.
Code Sports reported that Thurston waited at Suncorp Stadium for almost an hour to speak with Trent Robinson with the NRL legend complaining to the Roosters coach about Leniu’s behaviour.
Speaking on Triple M on Saturday, Channel Nine’s Michael Chammas reported the pair clashed again in the tunnel while Thurston and Robinson were discussing the incident.
“As Trent Robinson was leaving to go to his press conference, he was speaking to Thurston in the tunnel and Spencer saw that was happening, came out, and continued the conversation and then exchanged expletives as well,” Chammas said
Leniu was suspended for eight games after he called Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam a “monkey”, with their Friday night clash marking the first time the NSW representative had faced Brisbane since their 2024 Las Vegas match-up.
Speaking on Fox League’s Super Saturday coverage, Kangaroos coach expressed disappointment at the situation, particularly how it’s overshadowed Leniu’s side’s win last night.
“You know what disappoints me? Two things,” Meninga said.
“The first is Spencer, he’s keeping the media conversation going. We haven’t even heard from John (Thurston).
“The other thing is, what a great game of rugby league it was last night, what a great game it was by the Roosters, and this has taken front and centre.
“They’re the two things that disappoint me.”
Penrith legend Greg Alexander believes unless Thurston opts to lodge a formal complaint, the matter is unlikely to go any further, which veteran journalist Andrew Webster revealed on Saturday League Kick Off.
“I don’t know whether the NRL will look at it,” Webster said.
“I’ve spoken to Andrew Abdo this morning and he said that unless there’s a complaint from Channel 9 or Johnathan Thurston, there’s not much they can do.
“I’m not sure if that’s good enough from the NRL because it’s something that happened during a game involving the broadcaster.
“At the very least, I think they should want to get to the bottom of what happened.”
Robinson was asked about the altercation in the post-match press conference, launching a staunch defence of his player.
Robbo responds to alleged Leniu incident | 01:16
“There’s a discussion there, but from what I saw there wasn’t any crossing the line there,” Robinson said.
“I don’t know why, Spencer, he didn’t go and approach anybody. I don’t know why you’re trying to put it on Spence here... you guys are trying to put it on Spencer here.
“This is the way the questions are coming, you guys just have got to be careful the way that you guys are asking questions as well.
“I don’t think it’s on anyone, I think it is a discussion between two men. So cool your jets when it comes to accusations around somebody, the way you guys are questioning there you’ve already formed an opinion.
“Two guys having a conversation, it might get heated. But nothing wrong was said, as far as I know and it was about an incident and that’s okay for guys to have that conversation.”
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Robinson also said that he believed “someone speaking their opinion, I think is good in this game”.
“They just had a discussion on the sideline, I don’t think the details are really clear yet but it’s just two passionate guys having a conversation about differences of opinion I think.
He also denied that Leniu had any concerns regarding his first appearance against the Broncos since his suspension last season, or any grievances with Thurston.
“No, not that I know of, it wasn’t mentioned at all. I thought he was outstanding tonight, I thought he played with intensity and control he needed,” Robinson said.
“I thought he was great tonight, people are always going to have differences of opinion and you can voice that, it’s okay to say ‘I don’t agree with you’.
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“Both sides, there’s no harm done on either side, people aren’t always going to agree but that’s life isn’t it. As long as people don’t cross the line or say the wrong thing.”
Thurston was one of the loudest voices in disagreeing with Leniu’s eight-game ban last season, claiming the NRL needed to hand down a harsher penalty.
“The NRL had a great opportunity there to make a stand, not only for the game but for society as well,” Thurston said following the NRL’s decision.
“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 for the mental scars that have been brought up. And what our culture has endured over the history, since colonisation.
“I thought it was a great opportunity to go 12 weeks (and a) blanket ban for all racial verification if you are found guilty.”
