“It’s disappointing that we’re here. We don’t want these players to be marginalised, but as a club we celebrate and support everyone. We’ve only done it from a good-hearted point of view.”
ARLC President Peter V’landys supported Penn’s inclusive stance but admitted mistakes were made in the handling of the situation.
Sean Keppie, Kieran Foran and Reuben Garrick model the rainbow shirt. Credit: Manly Media
“It should have been done collaboratively,” he told 2GB. “I’m the first person who doesn’t want sport to be politicized because we go to sport to escape from day-to-day problems. So we don’t want politics involved. But that’s not politics, recognizing and respecting others and being inclusive, I don’t think that’s 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 color is, we respect you as a human being. The policy of the game has been this for many years. years and it won’t change.”
“We don’t live in Russia,” V’landys later added in a pitch for the NRL’s Women In League round.
Coach Des Hasler has told the players he respects their decision and will join Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans in front of the media on Tuesday.
The NRL told the club it would not allow players to wear different versions of the Sea Eagles shirt, meaning the seven objectors needed to pull on the inclusion shirt or miss the crucial game.
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“We own it,” Penn said. “This was to celebrate everyone, that was the point. We don’t want to put our players in a difficult position, but we are committed to the team that plays there, and we stay strong. We are an inclusive club and we continue to be.”
Men’s legend Ian Roberts, who came out as gay during his playing days in the 1990s, said the decision by a group of players at the club “didn’t surprise him at all”.
Betting has been suspended on the crucial clash, with bookies including the TAB, Sportsbet and Manly sponsors PointsBet listing Friday’s Warriors-Storm clash as the opening game of the round on Tuesday in the morning.
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