By Michael Doyle, ABC
Rugby League player Spencer Leniu during the NRL Vegas Promo Tour in December 2023 in Las Vegas. Photo: AFP / Getty Images
An altercation between Roosters player Spencer Leniu and retired great Johnathan Thurston has dominated discussion following Sydney's impressive win over the Broncos in Brisbane.
As Roosters players congratulated each other at full-time of their 26-16 win at Lang Park, interchange forward Leniu was photographed clashing with Thurston, working for the Nine Network at the game.
The conversation at full-time followed an alleged altercation between the two during the second half, when Leniu came off the field and allegedly called Thurston a name.
Thurston and Leniu then clashed at full-time.
According to AAP, Thurston told colleagues Leniu was unhappy with comments the 2015 premiership winner had made following last year's Las Vegas racism scandal.
Leniu was suspended for two months after calling Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam a "monkey" during the Brisbane-Sydney clash in Vegas.
In the aftermath of Leniu's eight-week suspension, Thurston said on Nine Network's Today Show he believed there needed to be a "blanket ban for all racial vilification if you are found guilty" of 12 weeks.
Thurston was advertised by Channel Nine to conduct the post-match interviews in the Roosters' room following Friday's win, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
But fellow Maroon great Cameron Smith was called in late to conduct the interviews.
Johnathan Thurston - who is retired - playing in 2018. Photo: Photosport
Footage captured by Nine, seen by ABC Sport, shows Thurston talking to Roosters coach Trent Robinson outside the sheds after the match.
Robinson acknowledge Leniu and Thurston had come together during the evening but believed neither individual had crossed a line.
"They just had a discussion on the sideline, I don't think the details are really clear yet," Robinson said.
"But it's just two passionate guys having a conversation about a difference of opinion I think.
"Someone speaking their opinion I think is good in this game."
After being asked more questions about the incident, Robinson turned his attention to the media in the room.
"It's a discussion between two men, I don't think that's the end of the world," he said.
"So, just cool your jets when it comes to accusations around somebody.
"The way you guys are questioning there, you have already formed an opinion.
"Two guys having a conversation might get heated, but nothing wrong was said as far as I know."
- ABC
