NRL 2022: Peter V’landys, Phil Gould respond to Manly’s pride jumper fiasco
NRL boss Peter V’landys and league legend Phil Gould have weighed into the Manly pride jumper fiasco as the Sea Eagles confirmed a host of players have chosen not to play.
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Seven Manly stars have sensationally stood down from Thursday night’s match against the Sydney Roosters in protest at the club’s decision to wear a pride jumper.
The seven players are understood to be Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula, Christian Tuipulotu and Toafofoa Sipley. All are deeply religious.
The players were due to meet with club bosses on Tuesday but that meeting was hastingly convened on Monday night and lasted about 90 minutes.
MORE: WHICH PLAYERS WILL REPLACE MANLY SEVEN?
The players flatly rejected the club’s wishes to wear the jersey. They had hoped they could wear Manly’s traditional jersey but the NRL will not allow players to take the field in an alternative strip.
The players claim they were not consulted before the jersey was announced.
The club has no intention of withdrawing the jersey which includes rainbow colours across the jersey.
Speaking at the league’s women in league launch on Tuesday, NRL boss Peter V’landys said:
“One of the things I love about Australia is we have this freedom. We don’t live in Russia.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, we are treated equally. We’re not going to back away from that, but at the same time we respect the players’ position.
“Our policy, and it doesn’t matter who you are, I hope they change their minds because that is the beauty of rugby league — it is the greatest game for all.
“In my view, we’re all the same. We should recognise that. However, I do respect the Manly players’ right to freedom.
“This is not a political issue. This is about human beings and respecting watch other. I heard this morning this is a political issue. I don’t believe this is a political issue. I believe it is human beings being human beings.”
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.
It is understood some players learnt of the club’s plans after reading the story. The club did not consult the players before making the decision.
Three players — Kieran Foran, Reuben Garrick and Sean Keppie — modelled the jumper this week for The Daily Telegraph.
Manly coach Des Hasler and skipper Daly Cherry-Evans are due to front the media at noon on Tuesday to explain how the club has been left in such a dire predicament.
Hasler will need to find seven new players before officially announcing his side at 4pm on Tuesday.
Club officials fear the withdrawal of seven players will split the club and wreck their bid to play finals football this season. The match is vital with the Roosters keeping Manly out of the top eight on percentages.
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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 first rugby league player to come out as openly gay, and on Monday threw his support behind Manly’s move.
“I try to see it from all perspectives but this breaks my heart,” Roberts said.
“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.”
V’landys said earlier on Tuesday that players were within their rights not to play.
“Rugby league is the greatest game for all,” he told 2GB.
“It’s inclusive. But at the same time you have to respect people’s religious beliefs and cultural beliefs.
“Those players are taking a stand and they’ve got every right to — they’ve got freedoms to do so.”
NRL legend Phil Gould agreed the issue was a “minefield” for the league.
“From what I understand, if you want to make a change to your jersey, you have to go through the NRL anyway. There has to be greater cultural awareness. These beliefs have to be respected,” he said on 2GB.
“I hope that’s the case. I’m sure it will be (playing on Thursday). Because of the popularity of the sport … it’s used as a platform by governments … for social issues.”
Former opposition leader Bill Shorten said the debacle was a “great shame” and should not have reached this point.
“Politicians should stay out of sport so I will adhere to that advice. It’s a shame it got to this” he said.
“On one hand, you will have a lot of young gay people saying do we have to validate our existence again? On the other hand, these players strongly feel their view and their supporters miss out.
“How did it get into this? How did the club allow this train wreck to occur? And that’s (what) I think is the great shame.”
“I am going to back … my admonition that politics and sport don’t mix.”
It’s not the first time an Australian team has been faced with this scenario. 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.
Pride revolt: Manly stars set to boycott game over jersey
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.
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 complaining 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.
On 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 first rugby league player to come out as openly gay, and on Monday threw his support behind Manly’s move.
“I try to see it from all perspectives but this breaks my heart,” Roberts said.
“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.”
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.”
It’s not the first time an Australian team has been faced with this scenario.
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.
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