Manly’s Josh Aloiai speaks for the first time since pride jersey boycott

The Manly star has spoken for the first time since the divisive boycott and confirmed he won’t wear a pride jersey ever.

Manly star Josh Aloiai has spoken for the first time since he and six other teammates boycotted a game because of the club’s pride jersey.

Manly’s season was thrown into disarray ahead of the Round 20 match against the Sydney Roosters because the seven players opposed the rainbow colours on the pride jersey on religious and cultural grounds.

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The Sea Eagles ended their 2022 campaign with seven consecutive losses, missing out on finals and sparking rumours of discontent within the Manly camp.

The players in question were Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley.

Now months after the decision, Aloiai has broken his silence on the decision and confirmed he wouldn’t ever wear a pride jersey.

Aloiai revealed he and his family members received death threats in the wake of the decision to boycott the jersey and throw Manly’s season into turmoil.

“(We received) death threats, my family got threats, I got threats about my son,” Aloiai said to Nine News.

“You should never be put in a situation where your religious views or cultural views and beliefs conflict with your job.

“Our atheist boys, for Easter round, we wanted to wear a Christian jersey and they weren’t comfortable in doing that. It’s all the same – I will support them.”

Aloiai was asked whether he and his teammates’ stance was disrespectful to homosexuals, the Manly prop said he had only respect for people who choose that life.

“We still have nothing but respect for people that choose to live that way of life,” he said.

“We personally don’t want to live that way or endorse it but, at the same time, we quietly took our stance and didn’t say anything hateful or hurtful.

“Instead we were the ones that were called everything under the sun.”

Josh Aloiai spoke for the first time since the boycott. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Aloiai’s older sister is gay and he was questioned if his stance had caused issues with their relationship.

“Me and her (have a tight relationship) and she knows that I love her to bits,” he said.

“Throughout all this happening, we did have a chat and she totally understood where I was coming from.

“She rang me up and was like: ‘How are you going? You all right? It’s so crazy the way the media has blown this out of proportion’.

“Corey Parker, he came and said we shouldn’t pick and choose. He hammered us in the media, (saying) we run out with our gambling sponsored jerseys and betting-sponsored stadium.

“I would love for him to show me in the Bible where it mentions gambling. It doesn’t, nor does it forbid alcohol within itself.

“He’s an idiot.

“I jumped off social media for a little while just to have a little detox.”

The star confirmed he wouldn’t ever compromise on his stance to wear a pride jersey in the future.

“The short answer is no, I won’t.

“We didn’t compromise this year and we won’t compromise next year or the year after. A difference of opinion is not a difference of respect.”

Josh Aloiai reveals all about the jersey drama and whether or not he'll wear the jersey next year. 🦅#9WWOS#NRLpic.twitter.com/CuYjK1cO5u

— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) October 25, 2022