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The furore over the Manly Pride jersey has caused confusion, but respect for all is key to moving forward
Rugby league does not have a self-acceptance round; this week's round is celebrating women in league.
You'd be forgiven for not knowing that given the furore focused on the Manly Sea-Eagles.
When Manly ran out onto Brookvale Oval to take on the Sydney Roosters on Thursday nighttime, the one-off inclusion striped jersey was more recognisable than most of the players wearing it.
Seven regular starters sat out the game citing religious reasons for not wearing a team jersey infused with a pride rainbow.
The style was supposed to portray rugby league's inclusion of all marginalised groups, not specifically the LGBTQ+ group with which it has become associated.
But with all the good intentions in the world that letter was lost, certainly it was not explained to the playing group before they found out through the media they'd be expected to wear it.
Most of the players emotionally attached are Pasifika — they've been painted as bigots by some who don't recognise their culturally religious views.
But Pasifika players form up 50 per cent of the player ranks, m
Manly coach Des Hasler admits the pride jersey scandal HAS driven a wedge between players in brutally honest comments on what it's cost the club
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler has admitted the identity festival jersey scandal this week has driven a wedge between his NRL playing group.
A candid Hasler told reporters post the Roosters defeat on Thursday at 4 Pines Park the club has to repair some bridges before his footballers are once again united.
'We've got a bit of work to do,' he said, before discovering the week was 'emotional on different aspects.'
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler has admitted the pride jersey scandal this week has driven a wedge between his playing group
'I'm just being honestbut as elongated as we are all sympathetic to each other's cause, we'll get there.'
It comes after Manly stars Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau'atu, Tolu Koula and Toafofoa Sipley all boycotted the Tricolours conflict as they felt wearing a rainbow pride club jersey went against their religious and cultural beliefs.
When pressed on whether he was referring to 'work' on the football side of things or something greater, Hasler added: 'Everything.'
The defeat co
‘It was a warning’: Manly boss’ big admission leaves door open to identity festival jersey backflip
The Manly Sea Eagles are yet to decide whether they will wear the infamous identity festival jersey following the saga that derailed their campaign.
The rainbow-trimmed strip, which was introduced to represent members of the LGBTQIA+, blew up in Manly powerbrokers’ faces as seven players stood down due to religious beliefs.
The Sea Eagles were widely criticised for their handling of the situation with players claiming they were not properly consulted.
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Des Hasler was sacked in the wake of the pride jersey saga after his side lost the final seven games and crashed out of the top eight. Former Broncos and Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seib
Gay rugby league star slams "homophobia hiding behind religion" amid pride shirt boycott
Keegan Hirst, the first British rugby league star to come out as same-sex attracted, has criticised the Manly Sea Eagles players establish to sit out their match on Thursday in protest at a shirt promoting LGBTQ+ equality
The first British rugby league actor to publicly come out as gay has accused Manly Sea Eagles players of using religion as an excuse for their homophobia.
Seven Sea Eagles players have refused to participate in a special shirt to promote inclusivity and diversity and will not appear for the NRL club this weekend. Their absence is a demonstrate at being asked to wear the club’s ‘Everyone in League’ campaign, which features a rainbow pattern traditionally associated with the Pride movement.
Keegan Hirst, the former Wakefield Trinity prop, became the first British player to publicly reach out as gay when he did so in before retiring in The year-old has condemned the players who have claimed ‘cultural and religious beliefs’ as their excuse for refusing to wear the shirt ahead of the clash against Sydney Roosters on Thursday.
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