‘Makes no sense’: Kyle and Jackie O fume at Manly pride jersey debacle
Radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O have called out the blatant hypocrisy within the Manly Sea Eagles pride jersey saga.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O have slammed the seven Manly Sea Eagles players who have threatened to boycott this Thursday evening’s NRL match against the Sydney Roosters due to the club’s pride jersey.
Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley are reportedly opposed to wearing the one-off jersey, which features rainbow stripes and trim – due to their religious beliefs.
Despite an emergency meeting between the players in question and the club on Monday evening, coach Des Hasler confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the seven would not play on Thursday.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler had earlier told his players he would support their decision to stand down from the Round 20 clash over the pride jersey, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Speaking on their popular KIIS FM breakfast show, Sandilands and Jackie O called out the blatant hypocrisy of footballers turning a blind eye to betting advertising and alcohol consumption, yet are opposed to gay pride.
“If they’re all playing in a stadium sponsored by alcohol and all the jerseys are sponsored by a gambling company, it makes no sense,” Sandilands said.
“If the religion was really the issue, they would also stop wearing (the Pointsbet logo).
“You hate gays that much that you won’t wear a rainbow.”
Jackie O continued: “But they’re okay to talk about gambling and encourage that.
“That’s so mean … I think it’s terrible, I think that’s shameful, and it’s hurtful.”
Sandilands then suggested people who oppose homosexuality are often insecure about their sexuality themselves.
“I don’t like people being forced to do anything they don’t like to do but when you’re playing for a team, you’ve got no decision as to who sponsors the team,” he said.
“But you sign a contract and you do as you’re told or go off and work somewhere else.
“I don’t understand why these players are allowed to make any decisions, management should be making the decisions.”
The breakfast show’s newsreader Brooklyn Ross, who is gay, called for the seven players to be stood down by the club.
“This is just saying these people exist and we support you guys, but they won’t even do that,” he said.
“I’m not here to put hate on them. We do an Indigenous round. What if a group of white guys said, ‘Nah, I’m not playing this weekend.’
“I want those players kicked out of the game. We shouldn’t accept this.”
Meanwhile, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys argued the Manly players were completely within their rights not to play.
“The game prides itself on treating everyone as a human being, no matter what their race, colour or sexual orientation,” he told 2GB. “We’re all human beings at the end of the day.
“Rugby league is the greatest game for all. 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.
“It should have been done collaboratively. I’m the first person that doesn’t want sport to be politicised because we go to sport to escape the day-to-day problems. So we don’t want to have politics involved. But this isn’t politics – recognising and respecting fellow human beings and being inclusive – I do not believe is political.
“We respect everyone. It doesn’t matter what your sexual orientation is, what your belief in marriage is, what your race is, what your colour is, we respect you as a human being. The game’s policy has been that for many years and it won’t change.”
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.”
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.
Originally published as ‘Makes no sense’: Kyle and Jackie O fume at Manly pride jersey debacle
Australia’s richest schoolkid spurns rugby union for Wests Tigers
Heamasi Makasini, a powerful 17-year-old centre, has rejected the bundles of cash offered to him by rugby union scouts to sign a massive new deal with the Wests Tigers.
Luai legacy: Star hopes brother, son build own Penrith dynasty
Jarome Luai cleaned out his locker at Penrith for the last time, but the four-time premiership winner says his name will live on at the club through his brother and son when they build their own dynasties at the foot of the mountains.