‘Traitor’: Public plea after Kangaroos winger sent ‘senseless’ abuse

Kangaroos winger Xavier Coates has revealed the anguish he has felt after an ugly backlash where he was branded a “traitor”.

Kangaroos winger Xavier Coates says it has been tough to deal with the ugly backlash that surrounded his decision to play for Australia at the Pacific Championships.

The Melbourne Storm speedster received horrible abuse from fans on social media after making the tough call to switch his allegiance from Papua New Guinea to Australia last month.

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The vitriol was completely unjustified for a young man who was born in Port Moresby to a Papua New Guinean mother and Australian father, but moved to Queensland when he was a child before he went on to play for PNG in 2019.

The Kumuls were keen for him to play for them again, but Coates was selected by Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga and played all three matches for Australia on the wing.

The 23-year-old scored his first try in the green and gold jersey in Sunday’s final against Tonga and almost grabbed another with a diving effort late in Australia’s 20-14 victory.

That has only rubbed salt in the wounds of Kumuls fans, with some earlier branding him a “traitor” for switching to Australia.

“It’s definitely been tough to cop that sort of stuff,” Coates told AAP.

Xavier Coates. Picture: NRL Photos.

“Harry Grant was very supportive and he was a big advocate for asking everyone to back off me.

“You will always cop a backlash for whatever you do in your career but it’s about how you deal with that and I’m still learning to do that.”

He said he doesn’t feel the need to win the approval of those fans that have sent abusive messages.

“I’m proud of who I am,” he said, according to NCA NewsWire.

“I know I’ve copped a fair bit of backlash for representing Australia, but I get to represent my dad’s side of the family. I grew up on the Gold Coast and played my junior footy here and played my junior footy with Burleigh.

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“It’s a really proud achievement for me to say I’ve played for the Kangaroos because I’m just as proud of my Australian culture as I am of my PNG culture.

“Everyone has got their own judgment, but I’m proud of who I am. I don’t need other people’s opinions to satisfy who I am.

“I’m just really proud to have come into this camp and performed the way we did as a group to get the win.

“People can say what they want. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but I know who I am and that’s not going to change.”

His comments came as Gold Coast Titans great David Mead launched a public plea for trolls to back off Coates.

Mead, who represented the Kumuls during his international career, described the abuse as “senseless”.

Xavier Coates is a try-scoring freak. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

“It’s important for us all to remember that athletes don’t owe anyone a choice based on pressure or expectations. These moments should be celebrated as they reflect the diversity, strength, and unity of our great game of rugby league,” he wrote in a statement on Facebook.

“As proud Papua New Guineans and sports fans, let’s rise above the negativity. Let’s be an example of how to celebrate our athletes, no matter where they play, and show them that we’ll always support them on and off the field.

“I stand with Xavier, and I encourage you all to do the same.”

Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou previously stated he wanted to select Coates for the 2026 World Cup, but the classy finisher now looks the leading contender to line up on the wing for Meninga’s team in two years’ time.

Due to his heritage, Coates is one of the NRL’s biggest names in the Pacific nation, having been born in Port Moresby in 2001.

“We all come from different backgrounds. We’re all multicultural. We all come from different parts,” Meninga said last month.

“Xavier is very proud of his Australian heritage on his father’s side. He has played 10 Origin games for Queensland and was brought up on the Gold Coast.

“He is passionate about Papua New Guinea but wants to put the green and gold jersey on. That’s something he’s aspired to his whole life.

“He is just as proud of his PNG culture as he is of his green and gold culture.”

— with NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Traitor’: Public plea after Kangaroos winger sent ‘senseless’ abuse