Manly pride jersey: Des Hasler apologises for club’s “significant mistake”

An emotional Manly coach Des Hasler has apologised to the LGBTQ movement — and seven of his dissenting players — over the club’s pride jersey fiasco.

An embarrassed Manly coach Des Hasler has made an emotional apology to the LGBTQ movement — and seven of his own dissenting players — after admitting the club’s pride jersey fiasco was a “significant mistake”.

Hasler and Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans held a tense yet passionate 24-minute media conference at Brookvale Oval on Tuesday where “poor management” was blamed for the club’s failure to inform players about a decision to use rainbow jerseys against the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night.

Seven players – Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula, Christian Tuipulotu and Toafofoa Sipley — have stunned rugby league by standing down from the game, based on their religious beliefs, in protest.

Hasler also apologised to fellow NRL clubs and the ARL Commission for the drama, which has accidentally sabotaged this weekend’s Women in League round.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans and coach Des Hasler fronted the media on Tuesday. Picture: Monique Harmer

Initially broken in Monday’s The Daily Telegraph, Manly’s jersey drama has become the biggest NRL story this season, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying: “I certainly hope that this is resolved. It’s a good thing that sport is more inclusive.

“And it’s important that in Australian society, we respect everyone for who they are. All people, regardless of their faith, should be respected. That’s something I have always done. And something that my government will do as well.”

An online Daily Telegraph poll attracted 11,000 votes with a massive 83 per cent of respondents stating Manly players should not have to wear the pride jumper on Thursday evening.

Manly co-owner and chairman Scott Penn, speaking from New York, was adamant his club would not conduct a witch hunt to find those responsible for the club’s fiasco. This came despite Hasler saying there would be “an internal review, no doubt”.

Penn admitted Manly management was aware of the jumpers being worn but that decision failed to reach the players.

“We are here to apologise for a significant mistake made by the Manly Sea Eagles football club,” Hasler said.

“We wish to apologise to the LGBTQ community who embrace the rainbow colours, to use these colours for pride, advocacy and human rights issues which have played an integral role in the inclusion and diversity of all minority groups.

Manly’s players weren’t consulted over pride jersey. Picture: Manly Digital

“As you are aware, the club (on Monday) launched a jersey for Women in League round; the change to our traditional jersey was the application of rainbow colours to replace the white spaces and lines.

“The intent of the rainbow colour was to represent diversity and inclusion, utilising the symbolic colours of pride to embrace all groups who feel marginalised, face discrimination and have suppressed share of voice.

“The jersey intent was to support the advocacy and human rights pertaining to gender, race, culture, ability and the LGBTQ movements. Sadly, the execution of what was intended to be an extremely important and pioneering initiative was poor.

“There was little consultation or collaboration with key stakeholders, inside and outside the club. Sadly, this poor project management has caused significant confusion, discomfort and pain for many people, in particular, those groups whose human rights we were, in fact, attempting to support.

“We also wish to apologise to the Australian Rugby League Commission, all the NRL and the other 15 NRL clubs for creating negative news, shifting the spotlight from the launch of the Women in League round.”

Hasler said a lack of trust between management level and the players on this occasion led to the player snub. The Sea Eagles coach had no choice but to allow the seven players to stand down.

“If we had suitably co-operated with key stakeholders, internally and externally, we would have hopefully cultivated a more suitable trust that would have ideally led to our action,” Hasler said.

“The players will not play on Thursday, and we accept their decision. These young men are strong in their beliefs and convictions, and we will give them the space and the support they require.

“For any person struggling with identity, we acknowledge the challenges and difficulties. My heart goes out to you and your families, and if the club can personally do anything to assist, we will. We are here, we offer our complete support.

“We have adversely affected our player group, a wonderful group of people comprising many different racial and cultural backgrounds. We accept your cultural beliefs and hope that you can accept our apology.

Manly prop Josh Aloiai is among seven players who won’t play this weekend. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

“I apologise to anyone to whom this matter has caused distress and we wish to apologise to our own playing group and staff for any confusion, discomfort and pain that the mistake we have made may have caused them.”

Penn said his club never considered ditching the pride jumper.

“We were absolutely committed to the idea of the inclusiveness and diversity jersey,” he said.

“We accept the concept was discussed internally with management, including the football management, but there’s an acknowledgment that players could have been more broadly consulted.

“This is clearly not our desired outcome but there is absolutely no witch hunt here. The players weren’t consulted and they should have been.”

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said players had a right to decide against playing.

“One of the things I love about Australia is we have this freedom. We don’t live in Russia,” V’landys said.

“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.

“Respecting who you are and respecting other people is not a political issue, that’s not a political issue that’s just being human beings.”

Former opposition leader Bill Shorten described the debacle as a “great shame.”

“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 a great shame.”

New Manly CEO Tony Mestrov will start his new role on Monday.