Players model the new jersey.Credit:Manly Sea Eagles
Kieran Foran,Reuben Garrick and Sean Keppie modelled the jersey,which includes rainbow colours across the front of the jersey alongside the logo of sponsor PointsBet,and trimming on the sleeves and collar.
But the disgruntled players had little idea they would be asked to wear the jersey until it was officially released on Monday morning.
It prompted a flurry of phone calls to club officials,who were made aware of the players who did not want to wear the jersey.
Manly legend Ian Roberts,who publicly came out as gay during his playing days in the 1990s,had been an advocate of the club wearing the one-off jersey,and has urged the NRL to do more to encourage inclusivity in the game.
“I expected there would some sort of religious pushback.”
Ian Roberts
Roberts said he would comment further later in the week,but on Monday night said:“It hasn’t totally shocked me like it’s shocking everyone else. As an older gay man,I’m used to this. I expected there would be some sort of religious pushback.”
The NRL won’t allow the club to have players wearing alternate jerseys,meaning Manly would need to come to a resolution on whether all players would wear the pride jersey or not.
The code was preparing to launch its Women In League Round on Tuesday,with a breakfast to be held in Sydney.
Interim Manly chief executive Gary Wolman could not be reached for comment on Monday night. Chairman Scott Penn is currently in the United States. Greyhound Racing NSW boss Tony Mestrov is not due to begin as the Sea Eagles’ new chief executive until next week.
It’s not the first time an athlete has taken exception to wearing an inclusive jersey for a professional sporting team,with Giants AFLW player Haneen Zreika having stood down from a game on religious grounds last season.
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