See the stunning clash between NRL star Spencer Leniu and footy legend Johnathan Thurston – as Channel Nine’s bizarre response comes to light

Vision of the fiery confrontation between Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu and NRL icon Johnathan Thurston has emerged – as Channel Nine issued a bizarre response to the drama.

Tensions flared during and after the Roosters’ 26-16 win over the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night. 

Leniu was involved in two heated incidents with Thurston, the legendary Queensland Maroons and North Queensland Cowboys star, who was working on commentary duties for Channel Nine.

Fox League released raw footage, showing Leniu being restrained by teammate Siua Wong and the Roosters’ media manager during one of the confrontations. 

Broncos veteran Ben Hunt was also seen attempting to defuse the situation.

The spark reportedly ignited in the 55th minute, when Leniu allegedly called Thurston a ‘f***wit’ after being substituted.

Later, after fulltime, Thurston approached Leniu on the field to request an interview. The prop reportedly responded with a furious outburst, calling the Maroons great a ‘f***ing c***’.

Thurston responded with, ‘What’s your problem?’

The explosive moment appeared to stem from lingering tension over Leniu’s eight-week suspension in 2023 for a racist remark made during the NRL’s season-opening Las Vegas event. 

Thurston had previously criticised the penalty, suggesting Leniu deserved 12 weeks.

While the incident made headlines across the country, Channel Nine made almost no mention of it during The Sunday Footy Show, despite the clash being the biggest story in the game. 

The incident was covered on The Sunday Roast segment of the show, with host Emma Lawrence saying: ‘We will start with what is the biggest story over the last 48 hours’.

‘It was that on-field altercation between Johnathan Thurston and Spencer Leniu.

‘Just to keep everybody up-to-date, for those who missed it last night, JT has now released a statement.’

Lawrence then read from the statement Thurston gave to Fairfax on Saturday.

‘Let me start by saying I was shocked by what unfolded Friday night,’ Thurston wrote.

‘As a proud Indigenous man, I clearly do not endorse Spencer’s remark in Las Vegas last year. However, the comments I made were an opinion on the penalty he was given and it is an opinion I stand by.

‘As Spencer left the field during last night’s match he 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.’

He went on to explain his attempt to seek clarity from Leniu after the match.

‘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.’

The program then showed footage of Thurston speaking with Roosters coach Trent Robinson in the tunnels at Suncorp Stadium after the match.

Thurston can be heard saying: ‘I said I don’t believe he’s a racist … I just said I don’t think the punishment fits the crime.

Lawrence then closed off the segment saying: ‘The matter is now in the hands of JT, Spencer Leniu and the Roosters. So until they want to say anymore on the matter, that is where we are going to leave it for this morning.’

Panel members Brad Fittler, Andrew Johns and Billy Slater did not comment.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson defended his player in his post-match press conference.

‘There’s a discussion there, but from what I saw there wasn’t any crossing the line,’ Robinson said.

‘I don’t think it’s on anyone, I think it is a discussion between two men. So cool your jets when it comes to accusations around somebody.’

Leniu later took to Instagram, denying he had approached Thurston and doubling down on his criticism.

‘I never wanted to talk to JT. He kept trying to come speak to me,’ he wrote.

‘Lad [I don’t care] that you hate me for what I did. But don’t come up to me asking me questions like we’re all good.’

‘Don’t be two face. Hate me lad I’m ‘eetswa’ with that. But don’t be fake. I hate fake people.’

In another cryptic post, he added, ‘Shade coming from a tree bearing no fruit could never phase me. Carry on.’

He followed it up with, ‘Don’t let someone who’s never been in ur shoes tell u how to tie [your shoes].’

Fox League host and Roosters great Braith Anasta claimed Leniu snubbed multiple interview requests from Thurston.

‘Spencer declined and didn’t want to take the interview with JT,’ Anasta said on Triple M.

He said that Leniu may still be holding a grudge over Thurston’s strong public stance in the wake of the Las Vegas scandal.

‘JT is a good mate of mine… but I can also understand why Spencer would think he’s a little hard done by with Ezra [Mam],’ Anasta said.

Mam received a nine-week suspension after a car crash involving drugs, which Leniu allegedly felt drew less public criticism from Thurston.

‘Now, they’re very different incidents… but it’s probably not the right time or place,’ Anasta said.

Roosters chairman Nick Politis also backed Leniu, playing down the drama.

‘It was two blokes having words. People do that every day,’ Politis told News Corp.

‘He is very passionate – maybe too much at times – but that’s how we want them. Spencer is a great guy with a good family and he’s newly married.’

Roosters hooker Brandon Smith also weighed in on the controversy, acknowledging the sensitive nature of the exchange.

‘JT is a Queensland hero, you’re out at Suncorp Stadium, like it’s always going to bring massive news in,’ Smith said.

‘I think the issue, it’s a bias thing. I think Spencer is pretty upset at JT for coming at him.’

‘That’s where I think it is coming from with Spencer, but like ‘Robbo’ said, he approached him.’

The NRL is not expected to take action unless Thurston lodges a formal complaint.