The last 48 hours have been exhausting as a rugby league fan.
Controversy surrounded the final seconds of the Cowboys’ win over Westst Tigers preceded a media conference in which Graham Annesley’s responses led to more questions than answers.
Kevin Proctor got the punt from the Titans following a moment of idiocy when he decided to not only keep his phone with him in a ‘restricted area’ during a game but then use that phone to share a video of him vaping during half-time.
But as challenging and frustrating these two scenarios have been it pales in comparison to the debacle that is Manly’s “Everyone In League” jersey which the club was set to debut this Thursday.
This jersey not only saw the Sea Eagles joining with ‘Gotcha 4 Life’ in support of mental fitness, but also saw inclusion of a rainbow to acknowledge and support members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
What has since followed is a group of Manly players, including Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster and Tolu Koala making the decision to withdraw from the match, because they do not want to wear the jersey.
Jason Saab celebrates a try with teammates. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
In response to this decision, I’ve seen words like ‘bigot’ and ‘homophobe’ thrown around.
In my view, these words do not do justice to a conversation that is not black and white.
As good as the club’s intentions may have been, my view is they set themselves up to fail because the players were not consulted about the development of this jersey or what it meant.
I often come back to the saying ‘nothing about us, without us’ and it seems like the Manly players were not part of the conversation at all when the end result was the players being asked to wear a jersey that signalled certain values; some of which are not shared by the whole group.
Perhaps if this opportunity had been provided, some of these players may have engaged in a conversation about why they did not want to wear the jersey?
Or explained to their teammates why their religion ‘forbids’ them from wearing a jersey with a rainbow on it?
Perhaps some of the men who wanted to wear the jersey could have shared their experience. Or perhaps Sea Eagles legend Ian Roberts could have joined the players for a conversation about why inclusion and diversity are so important.
There may have been an opportunity to listen and learn from each other. That opportunity has since been lost and instead valued members of our rugby league community are likely feeling sad, excluded, hurt and not welcome in a game they love so much.
This is not the first time a player has made a decision like this. Earlier this year, GWS player Haneen Zreika made a decision not to wear the Giants’ inaugural pride guernsey.
Zreika’s situation demonstrates the importance of nuance in these conversations. Zreika is the only Muslim woman in the AFLW and carries the weight of her community on her shoulders.
While she has participated in Pride Rounds before, she spoke to her teammates about her beliefs and her reasons why she did not want to wear the guernsey.
From all accounts, the most important cohort of people – her teammates, many of whom identify as LGBTQIA+ – understood her position and Zreika returned to the team the next week.
Haneen Zreika. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
But this is not what has happened at Manly and the decision by these players smacks as hypocritical to me.
For many people in Australia, religion is deeply important. I support the rights of each person to be able to worship as they wish.
However, players citing religious reasons for not wanting to wear this jersey is difficult for me to understand given behaviour demonstrated in our game every single week.
In between the rainbow flags that were meant to be on the Manly jersey at their home ground is the club’s principle sponsor, PointsBet. The Sea Eagles play at a ground, the naming rights of which are owned by an alcohol company.
The players are willing to stand by their ‘mates’ and play alongside men that have engaged in morally reprehensible and in some cases, illegal behaviour.
We rarely see players speak out about these kinds of behaviours. We either hear deafening silence or defence of their friends. We rarely see leadership from the players in this situation.
It saddens me that the issue that players want to speak out about is inclusion, when they seem so unwilling to speak out about anything else.
It has been many years since a man who identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community has openly been part of the men’s rugby league playing community.
Ian Roberts (Anton Want/Getty Images)
After the events of the last 24 hours are you surprised? Would you categorise this as a safe space, given some Manly players have made their feelings well and truly known.
And what timing! This debacle has happened on the eve of ‘Women in League’ round where the contribution of women to our game is celebrated. This year, spare a thought for the many women who compete in the Women’s NRL Premiership, who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
What message have these Manly players sent these women with their actions?
It’s not OK. Far from it.
But most importantly, the views of the few do not represent the views of the many. To everyone involved in rugby league that identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, please know this. You are valued. You are loved.
And despite the behaviour of some of these Manly players, you are always welcome in rugby league.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
The Bible was written for all. There are many so called educated people today who cant see they are born male or female. How can they believe in God when they cant even see whats in front of them...God could not have given more proof between man and woman.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
If the Church stopped science we would never have gone to the moon. Get off your assumptions. The white man built cities around the world under Christianity and bought with them scientists doctors priests pioneers explorers etc. If it wasnt for the organised Church world the tribes would still be living in a primitive world. You can thank the Christians for bringing out the tribes into the modern civilised world.
BennO
Roar Rookie
Race and culture being attacked? No they aren’t. Bigotry is being attacked.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Hahaha the Church never stopped science etc…you’re truely ill-informed if you believe that. Here’s just one quote for you, “Galton lambasts the Church for imposing celibacy on the great men of the Middle Ages, which caused the ‘moral deterioration of our nation’, and…for continuing to discourage marriage amongst fellows at our universities, a practice he dramatically likens to religious persecution.” - Control, Adam Rutherford. That’s one of 1000’s of examples.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
You still have no idea what you’re talking about. First you said it was THE CHURCH, which I pointed out was incorrect…now your claiming it’s WHITE PEOPLE…I’m wasting my time with someone who can’t even keep up with his own arguments. Time to “ring the bell” & get the nurse to bring your medication…
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
You might think your family comes from apes but my family comes from God. Keep hating.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
I don't think the T-Rex or Pterodactyl were tactile enough to sketch a self portrait. Or the crayon was washed off the rocks in the rain. It's a mystery
eagleJack
Roar Guru
There’s no hate like a God bothering POS like yourself tas pitta.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
you call me out for basic writing yet the white fella bought this and more an educated modern civilised society. yes there were some bad things along the way however there were tribes that welcomed the white fella. they were probably thee ones that were not into cannibalsm incest pedophilia etc. Yes these things we consider as evil today were not considered evil at the time with many tribes. Thanks to God having these rules. Probably another reason why so many pedophiles are atheists because God is against all that. So as I said at leats white fella bought peace amongst the tribes for the first time in their history and bought them into a modern civilised society for the first time in their long history. in the end there were good and bad in white and black. Stop blaming the white fella who bought this world out of the stone age.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
so what atheists havnt got a problem having a group of hate against God and his believers. imagine we have a group against lpbdjagjsklwmej? How many more letters are they going to add when people want to change to ape monkeys etc
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
i see gay people wear sports top with qatar lol. how insane are they...yes lets all just bow down to these corporations while having a go at these 7 heroes instead who stand up to bullies
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
its funny theres no ancient drawings of dinasours
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
Everything Jesus Christ said is still to be disproven. How did he know the amount of chewing needed to eat food is the healthiest way to eat foods. Hint (his) age of crucifix is great for the body. The more science delves into his teachings the more amazing his facts have become. By the way he also said he created man and woman. Yet even with enough proof right in front of people some people think they are a different gender. wait until the ape people start a group...
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
America helps so many nations. Who does saudi arabia help again. all we see is refugees trying to get to america not saudi arabia iran iraq etc...
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
no it was the barbaric nature of them that finally drove the crusaders to fight back. some believe they should have gone all the way to mecca the once non muslim city that non muslims as yet still not allowed to enter because islam considers non muslims filthy
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
The crusades were a territorial dispute, plain and simple. Christians didn't like the expansion of Islam into 'their' territories so they countered with force, maybe even killing a few. Sin anyone? "The church never stopped society inventing or discover new things etc", just check their view on the earth orbiting the sun for starters. The US is a pretty Christian country, so they claim, I'm looking at it and I'm not liking what I see, what was your point again?
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
Looks like Manu Tuilagi has no problems with this topic. Maybe because he moved to the UK as a 12 year old and didn't have his head filled with words of hate by the church https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2276247/Manu-Tuilagis-brother-cross-dresser-calls-Julie.html
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
Zone - makes you wonder what was the original "religion" in the P Islands. As usual white man and religious nutters forcing their beliefs onto others
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
apparently "Homosexuality is illegal in Tonga and carries a maximum penalty of ten years’ imprisonment" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/05/10/tonga-royal-family-israel-folau-anti-gay-criticism/
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Whatever you want to call it DP. He went out of his way to make his feelings known and post those sentiments on social media. My point was more around the fact that the PI players stood by him. I’m sure if another club runs with a Pride jersey next year they’ll do more in the background to ensure there’s a little more unity before announcing. Nobody will be forced to wear it but hopefully it all gets sorted (who’s in and out) before an announcement