Former Cronulla great Paul Gallen is fuming with Manly for allowing the NRL’s Women In League round to be completely overshadowed by the furore surrounding the club’s rainbow jersey.
The club unveiled the jumper on Monday to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in the NRL, making them the first team in rugby league’s 134-year history to wear a pride strip.
Seven players then boycotted the Sea Eagles’ must-win game against the Roosters on Thursday night because they won’t wear the strip for religious and cultural reasons.
Gallen questioned the timing of introducing a pride jumper given this weekend is Women in League round.
Manly’s pride jumper features rainbow colours replacing the traditional white piping and is termed the ‘Everyone In League’ jumper
The round, which is in its 16th year, puts the focus on the role of women in rugby league, be they fans, players, administrators or supportive family members.
The NRL say it also attempts to address the gender equality gap in society.
Cowboys player Kyle Feldt wears the club’s Women in League jersey last round
Gallen was filthy Manly hijacked the discussion with their pride jumper ahead of the round, and let everyone know it.
‘I don’t know why Manly did this … I mean, Women in League round is so important. Every single one of us have been touched by women at some stage in our life: your mother, your missus, something,’ he said on Channel 9’s 100% Footy show on Monday night.
‘They should have just left it (at) Women in League round, celebrate Women in League round, celebrate all the women in our lives and just get on with it.’
Former NRL great turned commentator Paul Gallen was scathing of the Manly Sea Eagles for introducing a pride jumper ahead of Women in League round
The former NSW skipper then enraged footy fans by suggesting Manly didn’t need to promote the inclusive jersey at all, let alone ahead of Women in League round.
‘I don’t know why they had to go the extra step and wear the rainbow jersey or the pride jersey. I mean, it’s 2022,’ said Gallen.
‘I think everyone accepts that there are different people in life, people have different beliefs. I don’t know why they wanted to promote this, to be honest … I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.’
Cronulla great Paul Gallen with former prime minister and Sharks fan Scott Morrison
It elicited a scathing response from many on social media, as users pointed out the obvious fact that the seven Manly players actually don’t accept different people, given they aren’t supportive of the LGBTQI+ community.
‘You can’t say it’s 2022 and then ignore the fact that in the year 2022, people are okay disrespecting the rainbow community. I respect the lifestyle choices of my religious teammates,’ a female footy player wrote.
Former Canberra Raiders journalist Holly Hazlewood, who is trans, also slammed the comments, and said she felt lucky to have experienced the inclusive culture at Canberra.
‘I was told when I came out as trans as a journalist for NRL.com that I was lucky to work primarily with the Raiders that my decision to live authentically might not have been met as warmly by other clubs. Today’s news from the Sea Eagles just proves that to be true,’ she wrote.
Manly players Sean Keppie (left), Kieran Foran (middle) and Reuben Garrick posed with the club’s Everyone in League jersey, which was unveiled on Monday. These players are not in any way associated with the boycott
Manly great Ian Roberts, the first NRL player to come out as gay, admitted he is heartbroken over the decision by the seven players to boycott the jumper.
‘I try to see it from all perspectives but this breaks my heart,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘It’s sad and uncomfortable. As an older gay man, this isn’t unfamiliar. I did wonder whether there would be any religious push back. That’s why I think the NRL have never had a Pride round.
‘I can promise you every young kid on the northern beaches who is dealing with their sexuality would have heard about this,’ said Roberts.
Ian Roberts, the first NRL player to come out publicly as gay, playing for Manly in 1995
He knows all too well the fact that the queer community is not ‘accepted’, as Gallen insinuated, having been bashed multiple times over his homosexuality.
That point is further rammed home by the continued and alarmingly high rate of suicide among LGBTIQ+ persons.
According to Beyond Blue, LGBTIQ+ people have the highest rates of both suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in Australia, with same sex attracted Australians having up to fourteen times higher rates of suicide attempts.
Manly players were set to don the jumper for the club’s crucial clash against the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night.
Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley stood down and cited their religious and cultural beliefs for the decision, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Daily Telegraph reported Manly wingers Jason Saab and Christian Tuipulotu are among the players who oppose wearing the jersey on religious grounds
It has been reported that three players are considering backflipping on their boycott.
The stars are said to be opposing to wear the jersey on religious grounds. Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler reportedly told the players he understood they were put in a difficult position and supported their decision not to play.
If any of the issues in this story have raised concerns for you, please reach out for confidential support by contacting Lifeline: 13 11 14, Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636, or Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467.