NRL 2022: Manly owner Scott Penn answers all the tough questions surrounding the pride jersey drama

Manly owner Scott Penn goes one-on-one with David Riccio to answer all the hard-hitting questions surrounding the pride jersey fiasco and subsequent fallout across the country.

Besieged Manly Sea Eagles owner Scott Penn flew back from New York on Thursday morning to confront the firestorm that has engulfed the club’s botched handling of their inclusivity jersey.

Senior league writer David Riccio questioned the chairman on how the Sea Eagles recover and learn from becoming the focus of the sporting nation this week.

David Riccio: Scott, why wasn’t such a significant message, via the jersey, managed with greater research, communication within your club and to the fans?

Scott Penn: “The jersey was always meant to be a “Everyone in League” jersey. That’s how it was always framed internally. And it was always about inclusiveness and diversity. It was about representing all areas of society, race, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation — the fact that we don’t discriminate against anyone.’’

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DR: That’s fine, but how is it possible that the players, the people who wear the jersey, weren’t aware of it until a day or two before? It’s a monumental fail.

SP: It originally began by coming from our jersey sponsor, then to our commercial department, which sent it around internally, the football department were in that mix and “Everyone in League” was the framework with Gotcha4Life involved. And everyone said that sounds great. Then when the jersey got designed, the rainbow colour palette was used and everyone acknowledged that it is synonymous with ‘Pride” in particular, but we didn’t think it would be controversial and we went with it. Jersey designs don’t typically get to players. It’s much more of a commercial decision. The football department was certainly across the background and intent and no one thought it would be controversial.

DR: So Scott, because you rarely share jersey designs with the players, you still didn’t think it was important to include them, given the significance of the jersey?

SP: “I think we will all admit that given the potential sensitivity around some of the perception of the jersey, we should’ve had broader consultation. We acknowledge that and we’re not shying away from that. We’ll own it.

The Sea Eagles have come under fire for failing to consult players over plans to wear the jersey with a rainbow strip. Picture: Manly Digital.

DR: You said the football department were aware of the jersey design. Are you saying the plan to wear the jersey was passed onto Des Hasler and the team. Because that’s not what Des has stated publicly?

SP: Not necessarily. I think they would’ve seen bits and pieces, but they wouldn’t have known the context. To be fair, they wouldn’t have been fully across it. The first issue with it raised its head on Monday, to be honest.

DR: The club stands accused of lampooning Women In League Round. It’s hard not to see how you haven’t done that?

SP: “No. That was never the intent. It was always about “Everyone in League” and a case of, what round could we do it? The challenge for us has always been with our home game availability with a delay in the Centre of Excellence and Four Pines Park, that pushed our schedule back and we were limited as to what games it could be. So if we were going to that initiative, it had to be this round. It was never designed to be in contrast to the Women In League round, it was the only week that we had a home game that would fit.

DR: You’re saying that it was originally pitched as an “Everyone in League” jersey. Are you then upset that by and large, the public have viewed it as a “Pride” jersey?

SP: “I think the reality is, I think it has been positioned somewhat more narrowly then the ‘Everyone in League” tent, but that’s OK. We’re supportive of everyone in the community. But that then puts pressure on some of our players who have religious beliefs that potentially conflict with that. And we never intended to put them in that position. That’s been very difficult. That’s something we would never wish upon them.

DR: Are you planning to front the seven players personally and are you concerned for their welfare?

SP: ‘Yes, absolutely, I’ll be talking to them this (Thursday) afternoon. We’re wrapping our arms around them. They shouldn’t be ostracised for their religious views. That’s their own personal belief and no one at the club will ever ostracise them for that. We are fully supportive of them, which is why docking them was never considered.

DR: Will you continue with the jersey next year?

SP: “Yes. Clearly, we need to do more consultation. But the fact is we are committed to making the Sea Eagles club in the NRL. How we do that we’ll need to now do a broader consultation. We need to also learn from this and how we can do it better next time, but more importantly we want to be inclusive. We want to be for everyone and we need to get the narrative right around that.

DR: Scott, surely you say that, knowing that you’re at the risk of players standing down again in the future?

SP: “I don’t think so. Because the intent was never to single out any group. The intent was for everyone and we respect everyone. So perhaps, the branding needs to be ‘respect’. Or words, to that effect. That everyone should respect, everyone. We might have a slight narrative change to make sure that it doesn’t get misconstrued and become divisive.

DR: Did you ever consider docking the seven players’ pay for failing to play against the Roosters?

SP: “No, never. We’re a family club. We’re all in this together. We respect our players’ beliefs and this was never a political issue. This was never about politicising anything. This was actually about trying to embrace everyone. This is a worst-case scenario for us. It’s not the outcome any of us were looking for. All we can hope is, the fact that it has created such media interest is that it has started the conversation and allows us to find a pathway to make the game even more inclusive.’’

Sea Eagles co-owner Scott Penn has defended his leadership at the under siege club.

DR: As a result of this furore, your leadership has been described as everything from rudderless, absent to misguided. What’s your response to that and why was it left to Des Hasler and Daly Cherry-Evans to front a press conference?

SP: “All it is, is unfortunate timing. That was a normal Tuesday press conference before a game and unfortunately it was railroaded by the issue at hand. In hindsight, Gary Wolman (interim CEO) was in the building, so he should’ve been at the table. But in terms of my involvement, look, we’ve got Tony Mestrov (new CEO) starting on Monday, so once again, it’s unfortunate timing. If he was in the chair, he would’ve been there as well and if I was here, I would’ve been there.

“I was always due to arrive home (from New York) this morning (Thursday), it’s really just unfortunate timing, as opposed to any mismanagement.’’

DR: I assume you will conduct a complete review of this week. Is there any possibility that we could see heads roll over this?

SP: “The fact is we need to do a review into how we can do this better next time, no question. Tony arrives on Monday and the first thing he’ll be looking at is how we can engage better internally and make sure this doesn’t happen again. This isn’t a witch hunt. It’s not about singling anyone out and trying to find a fall-guy. The intent behind this was always incredibly positive, it’s just the final implementation should’ve been better.’’

DR: What communication have you had with Andrew Abdo or Peter V’landys?

SP: “I’ve spoken to them both. The reality is they’ve both been very supportive of inclusion and diversity the whole time. They were supportive of our initiative. They probably both acknowledge that the way it’s been misconstrued is not the intent. I think they would ultimately acknowledge the game will be better off for it because it’s opened the conversation and we can work on how we can be even more inclusive.

DR: Do you fear the seven player’s stance will cost you a finals berth?

SP: “Of course I hope that doesn’t happen. But this is less about a game and more about a principle issue in terms of our belief in inclusiveness within the game. We’re not throwing a game, this is a principle issue. No one wants to lose a game. I respect our fans’ passion, but the fact is, we haven’t taken this decision lightly. For this one game, we had to take a stand that we believed in.’’

DR: Did you consider backflipping and allowing the players to wear a separate jersey?

SP: “The board was unanimous that we believe in inclusiveness and diversity. We want the Sea Eagles as a business and club and family to stand for that. And therefore if we cop some flak and if we’re not able to get the two points, we’ll cop that. We’re hoping it will make us even stronger for the future.

DR: Are you saying this week of controversy will prove defining for the club and the game?

SP: “It’s certainly got the conversation started which is our intent in the first place. It was about inclusiveness across the board. I think there’ll be significant change as a result. We weren’t anticipating the publicity that it’s received, but it’s a good debate to have. The implementation could’ve been better, it was never designed to be divisive in any way. It was always about inclusiveness. We’re disappointed with the way some of it’s been misconstrued, we’re also very comfortable with the initial intent.

“And we’re not backing away from it.’’

Manly owner’s message to Pride jersey haters

Manly chairman Scott Penn will front the seven players who have stood down in protest while declaring the club is unanimous in wearing their controversial inclusivity jersey next year.

In his first interview since arriving back in Sydney from New York on Thursday, the besieged Sea Eagles owner conceded the playing group should’ve been consulted about what the jersey, which features rainbow piping, represents.

He added that he had spoken with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and ARL chair Peter V’landys about the club’s intent to become “the most inclusive club in the NRL.’’

Manly owner Scott Penn says the club will wear the Pride jersey again.

Asked by The Daily Telegraph if the club will continue to wear the jersey next year, Penn replied: “Yes. Clearly, we need to do more consultation.

“But the fact is we are committed to making the Sea Eagles the most inclusive club in the NRL.

“How we do that, we’ll need to now do a broader consultation.

“We need to also learn from this and how we can do it better next time, but more importantly we want to be inclusive.

“We want to be for everyone and we need to get the narrative right around that.’’

Penn added: “I’ll be meeting with the players this afternoon. They should never have or will be ostracised at our club. I want to make it clear to them ‘’

‘WE ARE ALL EQUAL’: ROBBO BACKS MANLY’S PRIDE PLANS

– Michael Carayannis

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has hit out at the discrimination of minorities declaring “we are still doing that” ahead of his club’s match against the drama-plagued Sea Eagles on Thursday night.

A passionate Robinson backed the Sea Eagles’ plans to continue to wear a pride jersey despite seven top line players standing down from the game.

The Roosters mentor said “we are all equal” as he supported the game’s bid to be inclusive.

“I feel like it’s unfortunate that in 2022 we are still having this conversation,” Robinson said. “It’s great what the owners of Manly have decided to do.

“It is unfortunate that it has panned out this way because everyone is equal, no matter what race, gender, sexual preference, everyone is equal.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has applauded the Sea Eagles for continuing with plans to wear a Pride jersey, despite players boycotting the game. Picture: Getty Images.

“Let people make their choice and let’s not discriminate against those, we are still doing that and that is why it is unfortunate.”

“We have got Gotcha4Life that both teams (are supporting on their jerseys). “We are really looking forward to representing and talking about even just male suicide and the high rate that it is.

“But in the youth gay community it is five times the level of what normal society is, that is because they don’t feel included. And for us in 2022 to not be inclusive and not say it is OK to be who you are is unacceptable.

“We need to move towards a better place. I want to say that we are inclusive, we do accept you for who you are and we care about you.

“I’m about equality.”

Robinson said he would back his club if they wanted to wear a pride jersey and he talked to his players about the prospect of them doing so in the future. He supported the way counterpart Des Hasler and Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans conducted themselves in a dramatic press conference on Tuesday.

The Roosters are expected to be the big winners of taking on Manly without their front line stars. A win would see the Roosters leapfrog Manly into the top eight as the team’s battle for a finals spot.

“We know how we want to play footy,” Robinson said. “No matter the circumstances round it we are focused around being outstanding at what we want to do as Roosters.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Manly owner Scott Penn answers all the tough questions surrounding the pride jersey drama