Manly Sea Eagles players who boycotted last night’s match against Sydney Roosters rather than play in a jersey designed to promote diversity have agreed to wear it next season if they are consulted in the process, owner and chairman Scott Penn says.
Key points:
- The Manly chairman says he intends to have a pride or inclusion round again next season
- He said players indicated they were willing to wear a jersey next time if properly consulted
- He conceded the club messaging was unclear and Manly failed to properly consult players
Seven players — Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley — stood down from the National Rugby League match rather than wear the jersey, which has rainbow bands replacing the team’s white stripes to symbolise inclusiveness.
The decision to boycott, which Manly coach Des Hasler said was taken on “religious and cultural” grounds, drew criticism from LGBTQIA+ groups and the club’s first openly gay player, Ian Roberts.
Penn said the players’ main issue was not the jersey but the lack of consultation regarding their stance.
“I think they were somewhat frustrated that it went as far as it did without consultation, and we respect that,” Penn said.
“We are all about inclusiveness, so we will continue this theme.”
The Sea Eagles chairman made no apologies for the jersey, however, stressing Manly wanted it to promote inclusivity of all kinds — race, religion, gender, disability and sexual orientation.
He backed the idea of a pride or inclusion round next season, hoping it could be a long-term positive element to come from a difficult week.
He vowed to have an inclusion jersey again in 2023.
“We will take some learnings out of this, but the most important thing is we will be bigger and stronger next year,” Penn said.
“We would like that to be with a game-wide initiative. We will be working with the NRL, obviously discussing how we can do it better, and then how we can do it better as a game.
“But I think what this week has done has brought us a lot closer to it than we were before.
“We were maybe shying away from it before.
“And if this conversation takes us further down the pathway to resolving it and hearing everyone’s opinions, then I think it is a great outcome.”
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