All seven Manly Sea Eagles players have emphatically shut down reports they would backtrack on the Pride shirt boycott to wear one in the future.
It was reported on Thursday night ahead of the club’s contest against the Sydney Roosters that all seven players had agreed to wear a pride shirt next season by the club’s owner.
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Sea Eagles owner Scott Penn said before the game that the players’ main issue was not entirely about the shirt itself, but the lack of consultation about their religious and cultural stance.
“I think they were a little frustrated that he went that far without consulting, and we respect that,” Penn told 9News.
“We’re all about inclusion, so we’re going to continue with that.”
This report was closed with 9News’ Danny Weidler tweeting the latest twist in the ongoing saga.
“Manly 7 furious to claim they will soften their stance on the ‘pride shirt’. A representative for the group contacted me to say they are ‘not backing down on religious beliefs’ and suggesting that they would double down on their position is “totally false,” he wrote.
Seven players — Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley — objected to wearing the shirt due to their religious beliefs and withdrew from the game.
The boycott sparked widespread backlash in recent days from rugby league circles, including former players, current players, openly gay Manly legend Ian Roberts, ex-England star Keegan Hirst, who came out while playing, Roosters coach Trent Robinson and also entertainers, other sports and social media stars.
Penn said the players are ready to sit down with Roberts and discuss it with him.
“The players we met with are very eager to talk to him and get his message out and want to hear from him,” he said.
Manager Des Hasler admitted a “significant error” on behalf of the clubs and despite reports of three of the players wavering about their position, all seven players would be unavailable.
Hasler was unable to answer a question during the press conference after admitting: “None of the coaching staff or the players had any prior knowledge of the shirt.”
He was later asked why they had not been consulted, to which Hasler replied: “You’ll have to talk to management about that, I can’t answer that.”