1 day Ago By Jon Healy
Johnathan Thurston's post-game chat with Roosters coach Trent Robinson after a clash with Spencer Leniu has been revealed by Channel Nine. On the field, the Storm host the Warriors at a sold-out AAMI Park, before the Knights take on the Tigers to wrap up round six. Follow all the action in our live blog below, check out all the stats , and tune in to .
Key Events Live updates By Jon Healy The fallout from continues, with Channel Nine releasing video the commentator's post-match conversation with Roosters coach Trent Robinson. The audio becomes clearer midway through the discussion in the tunnel at Lang Park after the Roosters' 26-16 win over the Broncos, with an agitated Thurston talking to Robinson alongside captain James Tedesco. Robinson: Everybody went after him.
To be called racism ...
[unintelligible] Thurston: I never said that though. Robinson: I don't know what you said, I'm just saying ..
. Thurston: I said I don't believe he's a racist. I just said I don't think the punishment fits the crime.
After Leniu called Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam a "monkey" during the 2024 round-one clash in Las Vegas, Thurston said Leniu's "racial abuse" should have elicited a more severe punishment "to make a stand, not only for the game but for society as well". On Friday night, Robinson said the conversation was simply "two guys having a conversation" and "nothing wrong was said". But Thurston, in a statement, said Leniu "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," Thurston said. "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.
" Thurston said he is open to further discussions with Leniu. By Jon Healy Hello and welcome to another glorious Sunday of rugby league action. We've got the Storm against the Warriors at a sold-out AAMI Park in Melbourne, before the Knights and Tigers wrap things up in the Hunter.
Let's get into it. The ABC of SPORT.
