Ezra Mam and Spencer Leniu End Long-Running Feud in Powerful Post-Origin Reconciliation
A long-running and bitter feud between Queensland’s Ezra Mam and New South Wales enforcer Spencer Leniu appears to have come to an emotional close, after the two were seen sharing a warm moment following State of Origin Game 2 in Perth. Cameras captured the pair exchanging friendly words, in what many fans saw as a genuine effort to leave the past behind and move forward after a controversy that has lingered for well over a year.
Their rift dates back to the opening round of the 2024 NRL season, where a shocking racism scandal saw Leniu suspended for eight matches. During that heated Las Vegas clash, Leniu directed a racial slur at Mam, calling him a “monkey.” The fallout was immediate and intense. Fans, players, and commentators across the NRL condemned the slur, and Leniu’s actions were widely criticised, with many believing the suspension should have been longer. Maroons icon Johnathan Thurston was especially vocal in his criticism, speaking out publicly against Leniu and advocating for stronger penalties for racially charged incidents.
The controversy didn’t stop there. The tension between Leniu and Thurston boiled over earlier this year during a sideline exchange that turned personal. Leniu, playing for the Sydney Roosters, clashed with Thurston in a moment that drew headlines across rugby league media. Leniu later referred to Thurston as “two-faced” and “fake” in a fiery social media post, insisting that he had no desire to reconcile with the league legend and accusing him of hypocrisy.
Meanwhile, Mam has had his own challenges off the field. The Brisbane Broncos playmaker was hit with a nine-game ban for a serious drug-driving offence last season that resulted in a car crash injuring three others. His return to the NRL in 2025 was marked by intense public scrutiny and backlash, particularly from opposing fans. In his first away game back—with the Broncos visiting Manly—Mam was relentlessly booed by the Sea Eagles faithful. While most assumed the crowd’s anger was tied to his dangerous driving conviction, Mam hinted in the media that he felt the boos may have also been racially motivated, stemming from the earlier Leniu saga.
This only served to stir more debate around the unresolved tensions between Mam and Leniu. However, their post-Origin encounter this week suggests that both men have taken major steps toward personal growth and forgiveness.
Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald after the match, Mam reflected on the emotional exchange with Leniu: “It’s great that me and Spencer got the chance to see each other face to face last night,” he said. “As for the racial vilification issue, that’s in the past now. We’ve moved forward.”
Mam also took the opportunity to clear up reports that he believed he was being racially targeted by fans during the Manly game. “The story in the media that said I thought I was being booed at Brookvale because of this issue is not true,” he clarified. “I understand the situation and why that happened and will continue to work on being a better person and making the right choices.”
Footage from Optus Stadium showed Mam and Leniu in conversation on the field, with Broncos and Maroons teammate Patrick Carrigan seen in the background. Carrigan had previously stepped in to defend Mam during the Las Vegas hotel confrontation that followed last year’s racist slur. But this time, Carrigan remained on the sidelines as the two players engaged directly, marking what appeared to be a sincere moment of closure.
Leniu, for his part, has repeatedly denied any racist intent behind his comment last season, suggesting that the insult came from “one brown man saying something to another brown man.” While that explanation did little to calm public outrage at the time, Leniu has stood by that narrative. Still, the punishment and subsequent backlash were harsh, and Leniu has since taken a step back from media duties, imposing a self-directed media ban following his conflict with Thurston.
That feud reached a boiling point earlier this season when Thurston, working as a sideline reporter for Channel Nine, attempted to interview Leniu after a game. The Roosters forward refused to engage, accusing Thurston of hypocrisy and slamming him for what he perceived as fake behavior. The situation turned volatile, with Leniu later posting a defiant message on Instagram: “I never wanted to talk to JT. He kept trying to come speak to me… Don’t be two-faced. Hate me lad, I’m eetswa [sweet] with that. But don’t be fake. I hate fake people.”
Despite the hostility and the bad blood that’s lingered throughout the past 16 months, the post-Origin reconciliation between Mam and Leniu suggests that time—and perhaps the pressures of elite sport—has offered perspective and healing. While neither player has elaborated on the exact words exchanged on the field, the visual was powerful: two fierce rivals choosing respect over resentment, perhaps influenced by the high-stakes environment of the Origin series and the immense personal scrutiny each has endured.
Their decision to come together marks a notable shift in a story that has often brought out the worst sides of fandom, media, and competition. With the Maroons now holding a 2-0 series lead after a thrilling 26-24 win in Perth, Mam has reminded fans and critics alike that redemption and maturity are possible, even amid controversy.
As both players look to move forward—Mam continuing to rebuild his image after his off-field issues and Leniu stepping back from the media spotlight to focus on footy—their peaceful gesture after Game 2 offers a hopeful sign. For now, at least, one of rugby league’s most divisive feuds appears to have been put to rest.
