Spencer Leniu says he is ‘happy to be home’ as NRL racism row continues to boil over and Broncos coach voices support for Ezra Mam.

He was happy to talk about his alleged racial vilification of an opponent after the game in Las Vegas, but Spencer Leniu was tight-lipped as he arrived back in Australia embroiled in a furore over claims he called Bronco Ezra Mam a “monkey”.

“I’m very happy to be home,” he said to the media throng at Sydney Airport.

“I’m not allowed to comment on that right now.”

The 23-year-old was referred him straight to the NRL judiciary charged with contrary conduct over the alleged slur which left Mam in tears after Brisbane’s 20-10 win over the Sydney Roosters.

The incident has marred what was an otherwise great night in sin city for the NRL with the double-header season opening games getting rave reviews from would-be rugby league fans in the US and diehard supporters back home.

After the game Leniu seemed relaxed about the accusation.

‘I think it’s all fun and games when we’re on the field. That’s it,” he told Triple M immediately after the game, adding he was not “worried at all”.

But hours later he angrily confronted Mam in the teams’ hotel as the scandal deepened.

Australian Rugby League chairman Peter V’landys said he did not think the incident had overshadowed the Las Vegas experiment success.

“I don’t think it’s tarnished anything. I think it’s been a massive success for Australia and the game,” he told The Daily Telegraph at Sydney Airport on Tuesday.

“It’s built a foundation for us to build on. It was an unbelievable atmosphere and the Americans got a taste of rugby league and were the talk everywhere in America at the moment.

“Unfortunately we had an incident on the field but we’ll let the process happen and the player deserves due process and natural justice and he should have every opportunity to defend himself.”

V’landys said the sport would not tolerate racism and he had spoken to Mam.

“We will not tolerate it, but this player is going to be given every chance and opportunity to defend himself, he deserves natural justice and due process, and he will get that,” he said.

“If he did happen to say something like that (slur) it will be dealt with.”

“He’s (Mam) taken it very, very hard and I can understand that.

“He’s a great player and a great human being. We all have feelings, we all have sensitivities and people should think before they say things to anybody. Your words do hurt.”

Meanwhile, Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has spoken of his pride in Mam and the players for their response to the controversy.

The Broncos arrived back in Brisbane on Tuesday.

The Roosters recruit denied the allegation when placed on report on field by referee Adam Gee, and could be heard to respond “Why would I say that?”

Mam told referee Gee “he called me a monkey” and a Broncos player could be heard confirming it.

Walters said the players had shown great support for proud Torres Strait Islander Mam, who he praised for standing up for himself.

“That is part of being a Bronco,” Walters said.

“All clubs support their peers and their mates when they are under pressure and have an incident happen that is just not tolerable. We are a tight group at the Broncos and we support each other in every way.

“(Racial slurs) are not tolerated anymore in life or in the community. Rugby league is part of the community. Ezra has every right to be upset and stand up for himself as an Indigenous player.

“The NRL now are dealing with it and we are dealing with it in-house with our player Ezra. We are getting around him. He is OK but it was a tough night for him post-game. There is a lot of support around him.”

Walters would not be drawn on what penalty Leniu should receive if found guilty.

“It is the NRL’s policy now to deal with what has happened,” he said.

“We respect everything the NRL are doing and will leave it in their hands to make a good decision on the outcome.”

Walters said Mam would “definitely” play in round two against South Sydney on March 14.

“That is still a week and a half away but the club will support him and get around him every way that we need to in order that he can play Thursday week,” Walters said.