Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler and skipper Daly Cherry-Evans were left to face an intense grilling from a room of journalists after the NRL club’s diabolical handling of the inclusion of rainbow colours on their club jersey for the first time.
The significant fallout has seen seven players – Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley – notable withdrawals from the round 20 match versus the Roosters at 4 Pines Park on Thursday due to their collective religious and cultural beliefs.
It has left the Sea Eagles in complete disarray, and in extraordinary scenes, Hasler publicly apologised on Tuesday for the fiasco alongside Cherry-Evans at Brookvale Oval.
The coach also refused to name the individual – or people – at the club responsible for the jersey decision which has divided opinion.
The drama started after Kieran Foran, Sean Keppie and Rueben Garrick modelled the rainbow kits, with many of their teammates on Sydney’s northern beaches only becoming aware of the development after reading it in the press on Monday.
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler faced an intense grilling from the media on Tuesday after the NRL club’s diabolical handling of the inclusion of rainbow colours on their club jersey for the first time
And in another glaring example of poor leadership at the NRL club, interim CEO Gary Wolman was nowhere to be seen as Hasler and his skipper faced the music.
‘They (seven players) are not wearing the jersey as it conflicts with their cultural and religious beliefs,’ Hasler said.
‘And I am concerned for their (mental) welfare. Their spirituality is a central part of their well-being. The club has made an error from which it will learn.’
After quoting Indian political ethicist Mahatma Gandhi, Hasler went onto state the shambolic handling of the situation has been unacceptable.
‘The execution of what was intended to be an extremely important initiative was poor. There was little consultation or collaboration between key stakeholders, both inside and outside the club,’ he revealed.
‘Sadly, this poor mismanagement has caused significant confusion, discomfort and pain for many people.
‘We have even adversely affected our playing group, a wonderful group of people comprising of many different races and cultural backgrounds.’
Skipper Daly Cherry-Evans also fielded a series of questions, and said the Sea Eagles will band together to ‘try to do something special on Thursday night’
Manly trio Sean Keppie, Kieran Foran and Reuben Garrick model the pride jerseys earlier this week
Hasler went onto ‘sincerely apologise’ to community minority groups, the LGBTQ community as whole and the Australian Rugby League Commission.
Additionally, the Sea Eagles were deeply remorseful to the other 15 NRL clubs for ‘creating negative news and shifting the spotlight from the launch of the Women in League round.’
Manly club legend Ian Roberts – who became the first rugby league player to come out as gay in 1995 – earlier said his heart was broken by the seven boycotting players, and Hasler gave him a special mention.
‘I personally played with Ian Roberts and wholeheartedly shared his admiration with the game – and also to society, in raising awareness and acceptance of diversity and inclusion.
‘He was a great man and a great citizen of our country. The role he has played at our club, and the community, cannot be understated.
‘We must continue to seek out his guidance and opinions.’
Manly club legend Ian Roberts – who became the first rugby league player to come out as gay in 1995 – earlier said his heart was broken by the seven boycotting players
Hasler has his work cut out to name 17 players to face the in-form Tricolours, with a number of fringe players at the club also reportedly not willing to step out and wear the rainbow laden jersey.
Cherry-Evans said the team would continue to support each other, and ‘come together to try to do something special on Thursday night.’
He insisted the Sea Eagles would still field a competitive team, despite the absence of so many players.
‘We have to make sure that we look after our teammates because this has been a period that they would not have experienced before,’ he said.
‘Sometimes the hardest situations in sport are situations you have to deal with that are out of your control.
‘One thing that we can control as a playing group is accepting the decision that some players have taken, and trying to find the silver lining.
‘There are going to be 17 players out there celebrating inclusiveness and diversity, and hopefully we can start to shift the attention towards the good intentions that were had.’
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