Manly Sea Eagles pride jersey: Frank Puletua says homophobia isn’t a Polynesian problem

Polynesian leader Frank Puletua has expressed his heartbreak and disappointment at the pride jersey fiasco that he says has unfairly tarnished his heritage.

One of the NRL’s most powerful Polynesian voices insists Pacific Islanders are not homophobic and has appealed for the boycotting Sea Eagles players to change their minds.

Polynesian leader Frank Puletua, the former Penrith, Souths and Samoa Test prop, has expressed his heartbreak and disappointment at the pride-jersey fiasco that has marred Manly’s clash against the Roosters at Brookvale on Thursday night.

The Sea Eagles and the NRL have been rocked by revelations seven Manly players — Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula, Christian Tuipulotu and Toafofoa Sipley — will refuse to play against the Roosters.

The Polynesian contingent have informed Manly management they will not wear the Sea Eagles’ historic, rainbow-themed strip — supporting the LGBTQ community — on religious grounds.

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Frank Puletua, centre, hopes the boycotting Manly players change their minds.

The flashpoint comes three years after former NRL and Wallabies star Israel Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia for posting anti-gay comments which divided the sport.

Puletua, a veteran of 178 NRL games, is one of the most respected Polynesian leaders in Australian sport and expressed shock at the decision by Manly’s Islander group to reject the pride jumper.

“This is disappointing for me because a vast majority of the boys who made this decision are Polynesian,” said Puletua, who is of Samoan descent.

“It’s quite disappointing to see it has created this much conflict.

“I actually love the idea of a pride jumper. It’s fantastic.

MORE: WHICH PLAYERS WILL REPLACE THE MANLY SEVEN?

“If more clubs wanted to support a similar stance and explicitly showcase how we support the LGBTQ community, I’m all for it.

“There is no other way forward for us as a society but to embrace all diversity.

“I think it would be great if the guys involved changed their minds and played and wore the jumper.”

While Manly coach Des Hasler has apologised to any person offended by the rainbow jersey, Puletua believes greater education is required for Polynesian NRL players and communities on the issue of homosexuality.

The 43-year-old said he did not agree with Folau’s stance and scoffed at any suggestions that Pacific Islanders, notably those contracted to NRL clubs, are anti-gay.

“No issue ... not at all,” Puletua said.

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

“I don’t believe homophobia is ingrained in Polynesian culture and it’s not something that is intrinsic in Pacific culture, put it that way.

“We actually have a strong gay element in Polynesian communities. That’s where the irony and disappointment is for me.

“What we have seen in recent times is the result of a lack of awareness and a lack of engagement from some communities, including my own, and it’s quite disappointing and disheartening that we, as Polynesians, haven’t been able to make that progress and advance the players and our communities in that way.

“A lot of our attitudes (towards homosexuality) is based on how prescriptive you want to be to certain religious texts and whether you will allow it to dictate your views, how you behave and how you conduct yourself.

“I know our (Polynesian) culture and I know how intertwined it is with religious beliefs. Our attitudes are deeply embedded in the way we conduct ourselves and the way that we practise our traditions and culture. It is very hard to delineate between the two, which makes it very challenging in this day and age.

“In this instance, you have guys (Manly’s seven players) here standing their ground in regards to their beliefs, but times have changed and things are very different now.

“That’s where we aren’t seeing more progressive movement (in relation to LGBTQ issues) within our communities.

“You can’t have it on one hand that we have our own prominent gay community amongst Polynesians, yet not exhibit those values to other gay communities in Australia, the NRL or across the world.

“I certainly don’t subscribe to Israel Folau’s view.

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

“I am a strong supporter of people having a view and being able to share that view, but when it affects a certain sub-set of our community and society, that’s when it spills over to the point where there must be more education and community support.”

Puletua offered to personally mentor Manly’s seven Polynesian players and lead a campaign on the NRL’s increasing push for inclusivity in the code.

“I would certainly be willing to be involved on this issue,” he said.

“I am not backward in coming forward when I speak my mind on this ... these (seven Manly players) are very young men and some may not have the worldly experience that others may have.

“Maybe they are more impressionable and have not expanded their thinking and been more open-minded in their thought. Education can play a role here and I would certainly be involved in that.

“I think there is an educated piece that needs to go alongside this.

“Through some very in-depth and insightful discussion, you generally find most players, if they are willing to learn and understand, they can and will see the bigger picture.

“I accept it will be difficult for these Manly guys to change their minds so soon, so this becomes an education piece for the game as a whole and I am willing to play my part.”

Comment: Blame lies with Manly not players

-Paul Crawley

If the NRL want to be fair dinkum about inclusiveness they should make every team wear a pride jersey this round.

Don’t limit it to just Manly.

Then we would see just how many players throughout the entire NRL agree with the stance taken by these seven Sea Eagles.

And maybe then the NRL might have a rethink.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys came out on Tuesday morning and said that “the game prides itself on including everyone as a human being”.

“No matter what their race is, their colour, their sexual orientation, we are all human being at the end of the day,” V’landys told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

Manly's Kieran Foran in the Sea Eagle's Pride jersey. Pic: Manly Digital

But in this instance it is seven individuals from Manly who are being excluded because of their religious and cultural beliefs.

V’landys disagreed, saying the players had the right to stand down and not play.

But it is hardly a choice when they were not consulted in the first instance.

And now have a gun pointed at their heads to either back down and wear the pride jersey, or let their teammates and fans down in a match against the Roosters on Thursday night that ultimately could decide the Sea Eagles’ finals fortunes this season.

It is just an incredibly unfair predicament these players have been put in for what is essentially a political and marketing ploy.

The thing is, rugby league has always been a game that includes everyone.

There are no racial or religious barriers.

And at no point has the game ever denied people the right to play because of their individual sexual preferences.

But now that has changed, because unless these players wear the pride jumper they cannot play.

I spoke with a rival club chief executive who agreed that if his club had gone about this the same way Manly did he would have had several players who would have made the same decision to stand down.

And if you took that question to every NRL club boss it would probably be a similar outcome, depending on the make-up of their squad when it comes to cultural and religious backgrounds.

With close to 50 per cent of the NRL population being of Pacific Island heritage, this goes beyond seven Sea Eagles.

When clubs designs jerseys for Indigenous round they have protocols in place whereby they have to take the designs to the playing group and get feedback before going forward with it.

In this instance Manly players were denied this opportunity.

If the fans or anyone is looking for someone to blame they should be pointing their anger at the club officials who allowed this to happen without the correct consultation from the playing group.

And as for the game’s stance, it is not right that these players are forced to wear this jumper or not play.

That is not inclusiveness, it is exclusion.

They are football players, not politicians.

Just let them play.