Queensland legend Billy Moore warned the Maroons to not “poke the bear” following Spencer Leniu’s Las Vegas racism scandal.
The Roosters firebrand was handed an eight-suspension following his team’s season-opening clash with the Broncos after calling five-eighth Ezra Mam a ‘monkey’.
Leniu will make his Origin debut in the 2024 series opener, coming face-to-face with some of Mam’s Broncos teammates for the first time since his racist remark.
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Tensions also spilled over in the team hotel post match, with Pat Carrigan, Mam and other Broncos players being involved in an altercation.
Speaking to The Courier Mail, Moore explained that “he has shown remorse and we need to move along”.
“My advice to Queensland is don’t poke the bear,” he said.
“I believe Spencer Leniu is the best player off the pine in the game and since his return he has made a statement.
“My recommendation to the Queensland players is leave him alone. He has served his time.
“I don’t believe Spencer is racist. I just see it as a big man up against little man. Things got heated in battle and Spencer articulated things in the wrong way.
“If I’m Queensland, I wouldn’t fire him up.”
Speaking to media on Tuesday, Leniu revealed he was shocked to get the call-up to represent his state.
“I honestly didn’t think I’d be on Madge’s radar. When I got the call from him I was wondering if he’d called the wrong number,” Leniu said.
“I was just at home watching Ozark on Netflix with my missus. I was so shocked so I didn’t know what to say.”
Meanwhile, Carrigan also said that the racism incident was “in the past” and that he knows Leniu is a “good person”.
“I was a little shocked at the time, but time has passed,” he said.
“For Ezra, I could see why he was upset. I know what a man of culture he is and if you have seen him to go to the Torres Strait … I have gone up there with him and you see him mix with the Indigenous kids, they go crazy because they see something attainable for them.
“Ezra does his Torres Strait Islander dancing with his family and he is proud of his heritage. It was a good learning for us as a game and hopefully it doesn’t happen again moving forward.”
HOLMES’ HONEST ADMISSION
Cowboys star Valentine Holmes has opened up on his relief at being selected for the Maroons for the State of Origin opener.
Not only was he sweating over a potential hip-drop suspension, which he was cleared from, but the 28-year-old landed himself in hot water last off-season that threatened his Maroons future.
Holmes was the focal point of an off-field drama in September last year, photographed with a white bag between his teeth.
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While he maintains the incident in question was a prank gone wrong, he was slapped with a $100,000 fine – of which $50,000 was suspended – and was sidelined for the opening Test of the Pacific Championships.
The game-breaking back also had to front North Queensland’s board.
But making the Maroons team for Game 1 all but allows Holmes to put that chapter firmly behind him, having nervously awaited the origin team announcement.
He vows to repay the faith coach Billy Slater has placed in him.
“Being in this Queensland team is something I don’t take for granted,” he told the Courier Mail.
“It’s an honour to wear this jersey and (be) in this camp.
“I’m definitely grateful that Billy stood by me.”
Slater has full confidence Holmes will again grow another gear in Maroon,having amassed 13 tries in 16 games for his state.
“I like what Val brings,” he said.
“He is a Queensland Origin player and the last few weeks he has focused on his defence and done a wonderful job.
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“Val has been quite good the last few weeks.
“He will be fine.”
Holmes forced his way back into the Kangaroos team after the saga, ensuring that the white bag bungle only cost him one cap for Australia.
“I got the nod to represent my country again from Mal after everything that happened.
“I got to play my 20th Test for Australia, but it was a real rollercoaster and not something I want to go through again.
“That brought some joy and happiness back into my life again.
“It was a tough time for me.”
Holmes’ 2024 form suggests he used the post-season event as a learning experience that has, so far, fuelled a bounce back campaign.
“A bunch of people helped me through that period,” he revealed.
“Last year as a whole just wasn’t up to standard for myself and the Cowboys and I ended things poorly.
Leniu to be targeted after Vegas drama | 03:23
“I feel like everyone makes mistakes and all I could do was learn from it and try to be a better person.
“Hopefully other players can learn from that mistake too.”
Holmes starts ahead of Selwyn Cobbo, who has been named on Queensland’s bench.
He’ll likely emerge as the side’s first choice goal-kicking option as well, having taken over those duties since the retirements of Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith.
The North Queensland star is somewhat fortunate to be free, copping a sin bin for a hip-drop in his side’s win over the Wests Tigers last week.
“I am not going to lie, I was a bit nervous,” he admitted.
“Thankfully, I only got a fine and that was probably as far as it needed to go.”