Pat Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs' staunch defence of teammate Ezra Mam in a Las Vegas hotel following allegations Spencer Leniu made a racist remark is "part of being a Bronco", coach Kevin Walters believes.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Carrigan and Staggs confronted the new Roosters recruit in the hotel after he allegedly made a racist remark to Mam during the clash at Allegiant Stadium.
Staggs and Leniu crossed paths in the Hilton at Resorts World, where both teams were staying on the same floor.
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It's believed the pair engaged in a verbal stoush, before Carrigan and Mam emerged from a nearby room.
The altercation is not believed to have turned physical.
Speaking to media after arriving back in Brisbane on Tuesday, Walters praised the pair, but admitted most in the NRL would have done the same.
"All clubs are like that – they support their peers and mates when they're under pressure," he said.
Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
"They've had an incident happen that's just not tolerable.
"We're a tight group here at the Broncos and we support each other in every way.
"Just speaking with our players, it's great they supported Ezra in the way they did."
Leniu, making his Roosters debut, is alleged to have called Mam a "monkey". He was put on report by referee Adam Gee, and then referred straight to the NRL judiciary.
A string of past and present indigenous stars – including Johnathan Thurston, Sam Thiaday and Latrell Mitchell – have expressed their support to Mam and condemned the comments.
Thurston said on Nine's coverage of the match Mam was in tears after full time.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds also said the club does not stand for racism.
Walters said he hoped the NRL would make a "good decision" on a punishment.
"(Racism) is just not tolerated anymore anywhere in the community and rugby league is part of the community," he said.
"Ezra has every right to be upset and stand up for himself as an indigenous player.
"It's not something you can plan for, it just happens.
"I won't go into the punishments of it all. We've done what we need to do as a club, now it's handballed on to the NRL.
"We respect everything the NRL is doing and will leave it in their hands to make a good decision on the outcome."
Pat Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs' staunch defence of teammate Ezra Mam in a Las Vegas hotel following allegations Spencer Leniu made a racist remark is "part of being a Bronco", coach Kevin Walters believes.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Carrigan and Staggs confronted the new Roosters recruit in the hotel after he allegedly made a racist remark to Mam during the clash at Allegiant Stadium.
Staggs and Leniu crossed paths in the Hilton at Resorts World, where both teams were staying on the same floor.
ROUND ONE TEAMS: Slater's plea ignored; Dogs make huge call
READ MORE: 'I am okay': NRL great shuts down CTE worries
READ MORE: Leniu goes quiet as V'landys vows 'zero tolerance'
It's believed the pair engaged in a verbal stoush, before Carrigan and Mam emerged from a nearby room.
The altercation is not believed to have turned physical.
Speaking to media after arriving back in Brisbane on Tuesday, Walters praised the pair, but admitted most in the NRL would have done the same.
"All clubs are like that – they support their peers and mates when they're under pressure," he said.
Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
"They've had an incident happen that's just not tolerable.
"We're a tight group here at the Broncos and we support each other in every way.
"Just speaking with our players, it's great they supported Ezra in the way they did."
Leniu, making his Roosters debut, is alleged to have called Mam a "monkey". He was put on report by referee Adam Gee, and then referred straight to the NRL judiciary.
A string of past and present indigenous stars – including Johnathan Thurston, Sam Thiaday and Latrell Mitchell – have expressed their support to Mam and condemned the comments.
Thurston said on Nine's coverage of the match Mam was in tears after full time.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds also said the club does not stand for racism.
Walters said he hoped the NRL would make a "good decision" on a punishment.
"(Racism) is just not tolerated anymore anywhere in the community and rugby league is part of the community," he said.
"Ezra has every right to be upset and stand up for himself as an indigenous player.
"It's not something you can plan for, it just happens.
"I won't go into the punishments of it all. We've done what we need to do as a club, now it's handballed on to the NRL.
"We respect everything the NRL is doing and will leave it in their hands to make a good decision on the outcome."
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