'Significant mistake': Hasler apologises for rainbow jersey as seven players boycott Manly game

Manly coach Des Hasler apologised for the club’s “significant mistake” of launching the inclusivity jersey without collaborating with the players after seven of them have boycotted Thursday’s match against the Roosters.

Hasler fronted the media on Tuesday to say they had “adversely affected their playing group” and said they wish to severely apologise for the mistakes they’ve made, including to the LGBTQIA+ groups in society who use the rainbow jersey to promote diversity.

He also apologised to the ARL Commission, NRL and other clubs for “creating negative news, shifting the spotlight from the launch of Women In League Round”.

Hasler said he accepted the cultural beliefs of the players who do not want to wear the jersey.

“We are here today to apologise for a significant mistake made by the Manly Sea Eagles Football Club. As you are aware, the club yesterday launched a jersey for Women In League Round. The change to our traditional jersey was the application of rainbow colours to replace all the white spaces.

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

“The intent of the rainbow colour of our application to our jersey was to represent diversity and inclusion, utilising the symbolic colours of pride to embrace all groups who feel marginalised, face discrimination and have a suppressed share of voice.

“Sadly the execution of what was intended to be an extremely important initiative was poor.

“Our intent was to be caring and compassionate to all diverse groups who face inclusion issues daily instead of enhancing tolerance and acceptance we may hindered this. This was the opposite of our intent,” he said.

“Personally I share the views that are inclusiveness across the game and society. That’s an important matter and the NRL is for everyone.

“In this specific instance I also feel for the players. They were not included in any of the discussions of the decision-making of the jersey. At a minimum they should have been consulted.

“We will learn from this.”

Jason Saab celebrates a try with teammates. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The players who will boycott the match are forwards Josh Schuster, Toff Sipley, Haumole Olakau’atu, Josh Aloiai, wingers Jason Saab and Christian Tuipulotu, and rookie outside back Tolu Koula, who have informed club management that they will not be available.

Hasler said he was concerned for the players’ welfare “as their spirituality is an essential part of their welfare”.

He reiterated the Sea Eagles would wear the jersey for the crucial match, with a rainbow design replacing the strip’s white hoops.

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans added that in this situation, you’re not going to make everyone happy.

“As a person, you have the right to your own actions,” he said. “With those actions come repercussions and consequences and we just have to make sure that if any of these things get too out of hand that we’re there to support our teammates for their decisions.

“I’m really trying to encourage people to have an open mind on what has happened. As society we have a long way to go on topics like this. But there are going to be people out there wearing the jersey.

“I will be out there proudly wearing the jersey and trying to endorse inclusiveness and diversity. Eventually once we get over the fact people have made the decision not to play, there are going to be people who made the decision to wear the jersey.”

He said he didn’t try to make the seven players reconsider their stance.

Earlier, ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys defended the right of the seven Manly players who are set to boycott Thursday night’s home clash with the Roosters because the team is due to wear a jersey promoting inclusiveness for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The jersey has sold out online within 24 hours. Club owner Scott Penn has told the Sydney Morning Herald that the controversial outfit was “totally an inclusivity and diversity jersey, it was never just about pride” and that the team would not scrap plans to wear the alternative strip.

By Monday night the jersey had sold out on the club’s online store in all men’s and women’s sizes, with only junior versions of the strip available.

That comes despite the club’s popular retro Pepsi jersey from the 1990s and Community jersey, both of which have been worn in the past fortnight, still having some stock available for sale.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

V’landys said Manly had erred in not consulting the players and working with them collaboratively and was now dealing with the repercussions.

But he said the NRL supported Manly’s stance, even if it meant up to seven players would miss a free-to-air television game that has massive finals implications.

“As a promoter of the game and custodian of the game, we want the best players to play and give the fans what they want,” V’landys told 2GB.

“But at the same time we have to acknowledge people’s feelings and inclusiveness.

“Everyone knows the position of the game, that it is the greatest game for all.

“If you don’t want to be inclusive and don’t recognise that we’re all human beings and we’re all the same, well you have the right to stand down and not play. But the game will always be there for everyone.”

(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Roberts keen to educate players, PM weighs in

Ian Roberts, who became the first rugby league player to come out as gay while playing for Manly in 1995, said the player revolt “breaks my heart” but he wants to meet the seven Sea Eagles to discuss the matter.

“I fully respect those players who are choosing not to play and their right not to play with their religious beliefs,” Roberts said.

“It’s such a delicate, difficult subject matter because you don’t want to be disrespectful to people and their beliefs.

“I’m all about education … I would love, given the opportunity, to be able to sit down at a table with those guys and just have an open conversation with them, to try to explain what a pride round means, particularly for the LGBTQIA+ community, what it means to us.”

Roberts became the first professional sportsman in Australia to declare they were openly gay during their career while playing for the Sea Eagles in the 1990s.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday described the Manly situation as “sad and uncomfortable”.

“I certainly hope that this is resolved. It’s a good thing that sport is more inclusive. Ian Roberts is a friend of mine. He showed incredible courage,” he said. “He wasn’t the first gay man to play rugby league, I’ll give you the big tip. He was the first though to be able to have courage to come out. That paved the way for others to do so.

“And it’s important in Australian society we respect everyone for who they are.”

The boycott means Hasler will be scrambling to come up with a competitive line-up for the 4 Pines Park fixture.

Kieran Foran, Reuben Garrick and Sean Keppie were among those who had earlier helped launch the strip but several other players claimed they learned about the move over social media once the news broke on Sunday night.

Their concerns relate to questions that could arise from within their respective cultures. Manly’s management were to meet over the issue on Tuesday but that was rushed forward to Monday night.

The Round 20 match looms as a crucial one for Manly, with the Roosters and Sea Eagles equal on wins in eighth and ninth place respectively and separated only by for-and-against points.

Christian Tuipulotu celebrates a try with Tolu Koula. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

The “Everyone in League” jersey is the first of its kind for an NRL club while the AFL and AFLW have held a pride round for the past few years.

Before the player boycott, interim Sea Eagles CEO Gary Wolman said the club was proud of the jersey which embraces the LGBTQIA+ community.

“The Sea Eagles have such a rich and diverse history in rugby league and in the community,’’ Wolman said.

“To be able to bring this concept to life with [manufacturer] Dynasty Sport is a fantastic achievement and we are pleased to be able to share such an important message that means so much to many people in the community.”

Gallen questions club’s decision

Former NSW captain Paul Gallen has claimed Manly have taken the focus off Women In League Round with their pride jersey.

“I don’t know why Manly did this. I don’t know why they went to the extra step,” Gallen said on Nine’s 100% Footy.

“I mean, Women in League round is so important. Every single one of us have been touched by a woman at some stage in our life: your mother, your missus.

“I think Women in League round is so important. I don’t know why they need to go the extra step and wear the rainbow jersey or the pride jersey. I mean, it’s 2022. I think everyone accepts that there is different people in life, people have different beliefs. I don’t know why they wanted to promote this, to be honest.

“I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.”

Josh Schuster. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Team in turmoil

Manly were already missing players ahead of the critical match against eighth-placed Roosters, who only head the Sea Eagles by for-and-against.

Ben Trbojevic is fighting to return from a concussion, while Keppie hurt his shoulder in last week’s loss to St George Illawarra.

Tom Trbojevic, Brad Parker, Karl Lawton and Morgan Boyle are also injured, meaning Hasler will have to go out well outside his top 30 to name a 23-man squad.

The Sea Eagles then have difficult dates with Parramatta, Cronulla and Canberra on the run home.

Manly are the only club to wear a pride jersey this weekend, becoming the first team in the 114-year history of the competition to wear such a design.

Earlier this year, AFLW player Haneen Zreika chose to miss Pride Round rather than wear Greater Western Sydney’s pride guernsey, citing religious beliefs.