One of the main problems in the Spencer Leniu – Johnathan Thurston altercation is what hasn’t been said rather than what has.
Neither Leniu nor Thurston are going to back down from their passionate views about what took place in Las Vegas more than a year ago. That spilled over at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Nor should they back down. As is the case in most disputes, two sides need to be considered and a lack of communication is central to the problem.
It seems Leniu’s issue with Thurston is about doubling down on his initial comments, saying Leniu got off lightly with an eight-game suspension for racially vilifying Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam in Vegas.
More than that, it’s about Thurston not commenting on Mam’s drug-driving suspension.
Leniu was waiting for Thurston, and others who criticised his actions in Vegas, to slam Mam for his reckless behaviour while driving last October, which injured a child. Leniu’s viewpoint is more than understandable.
Spencer Leniu and Johnathan Thurston on Friday night.Credit: NRL Photos
The silence from Mam’s backers was noticeable. But here is where the lack of communication comes in.
Thurston has confided in those he trusts that he was never asked for his view on the charges against Mam.
It is certain that if someone had sought his opinion, he would’ve condemned Mam and doubled down on the NRL for the pathetic suspension they gave the Broncos star.
Had that occurred, it is doubtful that Leniu would have said what he did on Friday night. Thurston is not one to seek out journalists to offer a view.
Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam was called a “monkey” by Spencer Leniu.Credit: AP
But generally, he is available to give one and will give his on Mam – if asked.
Thurston also believes his comments following Leniu’s slur were not personal. It was JT speaking as an Indigenous man. But it would be very hard for Leniu to believe that and take the comments as anything other than personal.
Leniu still doesn’t understand how his comments can be perceived as racist. Remember, he had no knowledge of the Adam Goodes and Andrew Symonds situations at the time of the incident in Las Vegas.
He has also maintained a silence about what was said to him on the field on that day by Broncos players at Allegiant Stadium. That is the code he operates under.
Thurston was understandably rattled by the confrontation. The Roosters have no issue with what was said on Friday night and will back their player all the way.
The time and the place have made this into a big story, and it’s up to Thurston to decide whether things are taken to the next level with the NRL.
The NRL got the original Mam decision around the slur right. They stuffed up the second penalty to Mam in a monumental way.
Trbojevic’s turbulent form
The form of Origin-winning Blues captain Jake Trbojevic is causing concern among NSW Rugby League power brokers as attention turns towards this year’s series.
Trbojevic is too tough to justifiably be called rugby league’s version of Bambi but in terms of being rugby league’s nicest man, it’s a fair description.
Whether or not to shoot Bambi is the difficult decision new Blues coach Laurie Daley is faced with. It’s his first big call.
It’s easy to forget that Trbojevic led the Blues to their incredible series win last year.
Michael Maguire said Trbojevic was the glue that kept the team together and his leadership off the field was invaluable. He was Maguire’s version of passionate 1980s leader Steve Mortimer.
On top of that, the decision to name Trbojevic as captain was a masterstroke from Maguire.
Jake Trbojevic has not been in top form this season.Credit: Getty Images
Trbojevic bought into everything Maguire was selling. That included holding a baseball bat in the post-game celebrations as a tribute to the famous Maguire act of taking a baseball bat into the Rabbitohs dressing room.
Trbojevic would know he is not a lock to make the Blues side. He needs a month of strong form to convince Daley and others that he is ready to lead NSW into battle.
There is no more popular team person than Trbojevic, and he’s also a favourite with fans across the game.
But he needs to show more potency in attack. What helped Trbojevic last year was that the Blues had Cameron Murray and Isaah Yeo in their squad. It allowed Trbojevic to spend longer off the field after he’d helped soften up the Queenslanders.
Kangaroos skipper Isaah Yeo.Credit: Getty Images
Murray is missing, meaning Yeo will need to play a different role this year. If fit, Yeo is also an easy choice as captain with halfback Nathan Cleary another obvious strong option. Yeo is Australia’s captain and Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga raves about his leadership.
In an ideal world, Trbojevic will hit top form and make Daley’s choice easy. It’s known the Blues coach is a massive fan of the Manly fan favourite. And given NSW are holders of the Origin shield, it will be difficult to dump their captain. Expect this situation to remain a major storyline leading into Origin.
Big Mal shown little respect
Of all the players to say no to the Kangaroos in favour of representing other nations on the Test scene in recent years, Andrew Fifita is the one held in the highest regard by Mal Meninga.
The reason? He took the time to ring Meninga and explain himself. It sounds basic but take it as fact it has not happened in other cases when Meninga was blindsided by defections or decisions not to play.
Think what you want about Meninga, but it’s fair to say he has been treated with disrespect by some players and is sick of being the face of the crumbling Kangaroos.
When players pull out of teams or switch allegiance, it lands on Meninga. Each case is unique, and it’s not as though players have personal gripes with the legendary figure. But for Big Mal, it would be hard to not take it personally.
Play it again Sam
Roosters heavyweights, including coach Trent Robinson, are angry about unfounded stories that their injured half Sam Walker either doesn’t want to play again this year or is being encouraged not to by others.
Sam Walker tore his ACL last season in the countdown to the finals.Credit: NRL Photos
There was a rambling discussion about Walker between journalists that somehow ended up with these baseless theories about Walker.
“It’s rubbish,” Roosters supremo Nick Politis said. “If he could, Sammy would play tomorrow, and we would love him to play. I don’t know where this is coming from. Go ask Sammy. He wants to play.”
When this column put it to him, Walker said: “All rubbish. I’m really excited about returning this year. The aim is round 12 to 15. I’m back doing almost full training, just staying out of the live-ball contact drills.
“But, touch wood, no setbacks and I can be back at around the halfway point of the season.”
Sexton stays focused
Toby Sexton is showing a strong level of professionalism as talk about his future bubbles in the background. The Dogs have not opened talks with Sexton, and his management has offered him to rivals like Canberra, the Cowboys and Manly.
Sexton wants to stay at the Dogs and will wait to hear what they can offer. The Bulldogs have ruled themselves out of the Daly Cherry-Evans chase. They have some depth in the halves, with Bailey Hayward impressing, while youngster Mitch Woods has just returned from injury.
Lo blow for Blues?
Zac Lomax may or may not have made a full-strength Blues team this year – but there is no doubt he has proved himself to be an Origin-calibre player.
Lomax’s incredible kick from the sideline in the decider last year to level the scores at 2-2 was one of the best goal-kicking moments of modern times.
Lomax had been urging for a shot at goal on earlier occasions in that game and finally got his chance when Michael Maguire made the stunning decision from the coaches box – against the advice of his coaching staff – for Lomax to attempt a sideline penalty.
I discussed the moment with Lomax recently, and he admitted he was nervous even though he looked calm on the outside.
The Blues will miss more than his goal-kicking if he is unavailable. His incredible will to win and physicality – plus skill under the high ball – really helped the team last year and had him well in the running for selection in 2025.
If everyone was fit and available, Laurie Daley’s wing options would include Lomax, Brian To’o, Tom Trbojevic and Jacob Kiraz.
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