Tweet
Several Manly players set to boycott Roosters game over club’s pride jersey
NRL 2022: Several Manly Sea Eagles players set to boycott Roosters game over club’s pride jersey
Dean Ritchie and Michael Carayannis
2 min read
July 25, 2022 - 5:30PMNews Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Manly has been plunged into chaos with a host of players considering pulling out of Thursday night’s clash against the Sydney Roosters because of the club’s inclusive jersey.
It is understood players are considering withdrawing from the game on religious grounds, with claims they were not consulted before the jersey was announced.
An emergency players meeting originally planned for Tuesday has now been moved up to Monday night in a move which could derail the ninth-placed Sea Eagles’ premierships hopes.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal up to seven players are flatly opposed to wearing the jumper on religious beliefs, including wingers Jason Saab and Christian Tuipulotu, along with star forward Josh Aloiai.
Gay former Manly player Ian Roberts will be in the crowd for the game.Coaching staff are now facing the unthinkable prospect of allowing up to seven players to stand down from the match against the Roosters, who are currently keeping the Sea Eagles out of the top eight on for-and-against.
There is an internal fear at Manly that if the jumper is now dumped then the public will accuse the club of being “homophobic.”
It is understood some board members approved the jumper.
Manly will become the first club in rugby league’s 114-year history to wear a jersey – titled Everyone in League – celebrating diversity and inclusivity in the NRL. As revealed in Monday’s The Daily Telegraph, rainbow colours will replace the traditional white piping on Manly’s jumper for the game at Brookvale’s 4 Pines Park.
After reading The Daily Telegraph story, a number of players have contacted Manly officials to complaing about wearing the jumper.
And it would appear a compromise cannot be reached with the NRL likely to say all players must wear the same jumper in a game – ending talk some players will be given a choice to wear an alternative jersey.
Manly coach Des Hasler is aware of the situation and the resistance from some players.
Three players – Kieran Foran, Reuben Garrick and Sean Keppie — modelled the jumper this week for The Daily Telegraph.
Manly's Sean Keppie, Kieran Foran and Reuben Garrick in the Sea Eagle's Pride jersey. Picture: Manly DigitalOn religious grounds, the dissenting players have told their managers they will pull out if forced to play in the one-off jumper. That’s despite Manly’s major sponsor, Pointsbet, being a gambling company, while the stadium, 4 Pines Park, is named after an alcoholic brewing company.
It shapes as an embarrassing moment at 4 Pines Park on Thursday with Sea Eagles club great Ian Roberts hoping to attend and watch the players run out wearing the jersey.
Roberts, in 1995, became the rugby league player to come out as openly gay, and on Monday threw his support behind Manly’s move.
The Daily Telegraph revealed that Manly had agreed to wear the apparel with interim Sea Eagles CEO Gary Wolman claiming his club was proud to “share such an important message that means so much to so many people in the community.”
“The Sea Eagles have such a rich and diverse history in rugby league and in the community,” Wolman said.
Former Manly forward Ian Roberts, the first player to come out as openly gay, applauded the jumper.
“LGBTIQA people have always been a part of sport but haven’t always been allowed the visibility,” said Roberts.
“Honestly I have been trying to get the NRL to have a pride round for the past three years and it still hasn’t got the traction it deserves. It saddens me because they think having a float at the Mardi Gras is enough and it’s not.”
In January, AFLW GWS player Haneen Zreika stood down from the Giants’ clash with the Western Bulldogs after deciding not to wear the club’s Pride guernsey on religious grounds.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...190067e7f1cfee
Comment