‘Embarrassing’: Manly Sea Eagles under fire for pride jersey debacle

The Manly Sea Eagles owner has responded to ongoing backlash regarding the club’s one-off pride jersey.

The Manly Sea Eagles have been torn to shreds for their “disastrous” mismanagement of the pride jersey scandal.

The Manly Sea Eagles owner is adamant the club will not abandon the club’s rainbow-themed pride jersey despite seven players threatening to boycott this week’s NRL match against the Sydney Roosters.

Seven players sensationally stood down after the club announced the pride jersey – featuring rainbow stripes and trim – would be worn as a one-off for Thursday evening’s game.

Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley were reportedly opposed to wearing the jersey due to religious beliefs.

Despite earlier reports some of the seven later backflipped on their decision, coach Des Hasler confirmed on Tuesday afternoon the group would not be playing, with the support of the club.

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Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Manly owner Scott Penn confirmed the club would remain committed to wearing the pride jersey despite the ongoing backlash.

“It was totally an inclusivity and diversity jersey,” he told the Nine publication.

“It was never just about pride. It was about saying we want everyone in the game and making them feel they can get involved. Players have been put in a tough position.

“We’re not going to force them to play, but we’re committed to the jersey and we’re committed to inclusion. We’re not walking away from our position. And we respect their beliefs.

“It’s just disappointing we’re here. We don’t want those players to be outcasts, but as a club we celebrate and support everyone. We have only done this from a good-hearted point of view.”

A number of players opted not to play on Thursday, as they were not comfortable wearing the club’s pride jersey. Picture: Manly Digital

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler reportedly told his players he would support their decision to stand down from the Round 20 contest over the pride jersey, while ARLC chairman Peter V’landys argued the footballers were completely 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.”

The Sea Eagles have come under fire for their “disastrous” mismanagement of the pride jersey scandal, which is threatening to derail the club’s season.

Rugby league journalist Paul Kent criticised the club for approving the pride jersey without consulting the Board or players beforehand.

“The players, according to my understanding, not all of them but many of them only became aware they were wearing these jerseys when they read about it in the newspaper,” he told Fox League’s NRL 360 on Monday evening.

“Because of their own cultural and religious beliefs some of them have an issue with it.

“The Manly club did this without any consultation of the players, they did it without board approval. It’s basically a marketing decision and they’ve just assumed everything was OK.

“The club has imposed its own politics on these players and these players have inadvertently been embroiled in this scandal and they will be, hopefully, protected. But they will be under pressure now through no fault of their own.

“It’s an embarrassing look for the club.

“To inflict their own political views on the players who may not share that and are now being forced to deal with the consequences of that is a real oversight by the club and it’s something they should be embarrassed about.”

Manly's Sean Keppie, Kieran Foran and Reuben Garrick in the Sea Eagle's Pride jersey. Pic: Manly Digital

On Tuesday morning, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked whether he had a message for the country’s religious communities in the aftermath of the Manly saga.

“That I respect people of faith,” he said.

“That 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.

“We will address the issues of religious discrimination and the need to legislate there. We’ll do that during the term of Parliament. We’ll do it in a way which is much more consultative and brings people together in a way that I hope characterises the way my Government functions.

“I certainly hope that this is resolved. It‘s a good thing that sport is more inclusive. It’s important that in Australian society we respect everyone for who they are.”

Speaking on Channel 9’s Today, rugby league reporter Danny Weidler pointed out that Manly was still searching for a CEO, which potentially contributed to the PR “crisis”.

“It‘s a crisis for Manly, there is no other way to say it,” he said.

“It’s poor management, misreading the playing group, not understanding what their club is about and what a lot of their players are about.

“The Manly club have not had a proper CEO in place for some time after Steven Humphreys left the club. And, in that time, they’ve managed to avoid any major issue but they have now found themselves in the middle of this issue and they probably should have had a CEO in place some time ago because this is a decision that has been made by management but not with the consultation of the footballers.

“They will have to admit they made an error in the way they’ve handled their playing group. But I also imagine they will have to balance very carefully about the pride jersey. There’s a lot of people at that club who like the idea and support the idea. There are obviously the players who don’t. So they’re going to have to manage that in quite a professional and respectful manner when they front the media today and then name a team.”

7News reporter Michelle Bishop explained on Channel 7’s Sunrise: “Imagine anyone of us turning up at your workplace and being told what to wear or how to think.

“The Polynesian committee within the rugby league community is very strong on their cultural beliefs and this is not something that was plucked out of the air, they have actually almost been publicly shamed for their beliefs. This has been handled really poorly by the club. It is quite disastrous.”

Jason Saab is one of the players not willing to play in the pride jersey. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten also commented on the pride jersey debacle, blaming the club’s administrators for the “train wreck”.

“Politicians should stay out of sport so I will adhere to that advice,” he said. “It’s a shame it got to this.

“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.”

Meanwhile, former New South Wales captain Paul Gallen blasted Manly for inadvertently shifting the focus away from Women in League round.

“I don‘t know why Manly did this. I don’t know why they went to the extra step,” he told Channel 9’s 100% Footy.

“I don‘t know why they had to go the extra step and wear the rainbow jersey or the pride jersey. I mean, it’s 2022. I think everyone accepts that there are different people in life, people have different beliefs. I don’t know why they wanted to promote this, to be honest … I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.

“I think Women in League round is so important. They just should have stuck with Women in League round and should have left it at that.

“This is a misunderstanding from someone far removed from the football operation, in marketing and promotion and other things that they do, not understanding the cultural beliefs of some of their players.

“Religion is very, very important to these people, and the beliefs of those religions, particularly the Pacific Island boys, and I guess they were probably just taken aback by it.”

Manly will address the media later today before announcing their team at 4pm AEST.

Meanwhile, the club’s historic jersey celebrating inclusivity sold out in the men’s section online within hours of the seven stars officially standing down.