Northern Pride leaders declare zero tolerance for racial and homophobic slurs

A Queensland rugby league coach and CEO has taken a stand against racial and homophobic slurs in sport in the aftermath of incidents in both the NRL and QCup.

Action from the Northern Pride and Burleigh Bears round 13 Hostplus Cup clash at Barlow Park. Picture Emily Barker.

Northern Pride’s coach and CEO say any racial or homophobic slurs will not be tolerated in Far North Queensland.

The Q-Cup was sent into overdrive after former Northern Pride and Cowboys player Emry Pere was heard calling a Burleigh Bears player a ‘f– king f–got’ during his match for Toowoomba Clydesdales on Saturday night.

Pride CEO Garreth Smith said it needed to be cut from more than just our game.

“100 per cent it should be,” Smith said.

Northern Pride CEO Garreth Smith said racism and homophobic slurs have no place in the game. Picture Emily Barker.

“Anything racial or homophobic shouldn’t be said, especially on a footy field.

“As an organisation we drill it into our staff, our players, our community, fans to ensure nothing like that happens here.

“We have one of the biggest inclusions of Indigenous players within the league.

“We are in an area which is surrounded by Islands and smaller regional towns.

“All of which are full of Indigenous communities.”

In Australia, there has only been one openly gay male NRL player and one openly gay male NBL player.

Former North Queensland Cowboys prop Ian Roberts came out in 1995 during the time he played for Manly Sea Eagles.

While Melbourne United’s Isaac Humphries became the first openly gay NBL player in 2022, revealing to his teammates with the video being shared to the clubs social media.

“These boys are such a tight knit group, you know they would hear and see it throughout their daily lives,” Smith said.

Action from the Northern Pride and Burleigh Bears round 13 Hostplus Cup clash at Barlow Park. Picture Emily Barker.

“If you google the name ‘Pride’ you will see what you get.

“We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation.

“Doesn’t matter what nationality you are, where you come from or your sexuality.”

The NRL is investigating allegations that Parramatta prop Junior Paulo was racially abused after the Eels’ loss in Newcastle on Saturday night.

It is understood the NRL was informed of the allegations over the weekend and the matter is now in the hands of the integrity unit.

The Northern Pride will run out this Saturday at Barlow Park in their Indigenous jersey design for the first time this year for Indigenous round.

“It is a massive round for us, I don’t think I have seen such a close group of mates before,” Smith said.

“I will say, what are the QRL doing to help the inclusions of Indigenous players to our game?

“They set up the round and we get the jerseys and everything, but what are they doing to ensure that there are more Indigenous pathways to rugby league.

“As I said, we have such a wide range of representatives in our club from different backgrounds and I don’t mean just on the field.

“We have assistant coaches and admin staff and a lot more definitely.”

Two AFL players were banned this season after a homophobic slur was made within a number of weeks.

Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson was given three weeks for the slur with Gold Coast Suns’ Wil Powell given a five week ban for the same slur said during the Q-Clash just weeks later.

Originally published as Northern Pride leaders declare zero tolerance for racial and homophobic slurs