Manly Sea Eagles, pride jersey, seven players, Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Paul Gallen
Paul Gallen has made it clear he’s supportive of the pride movement but argued Manly shouldn’t have taken the focus off Women in League round when it’s so important to acknowledge the role played by women in the game.
A ferocious debate was ignited on Monday when it was revealed that seven Sea Eagles players would not face the Roosters on Thursday due to the club’s decision to put them in a jersey with a rainbow pattern.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Manly’s Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley will all miss the clash with the Tricolours at 4 Pines Park due to cultural and religious beliefs.
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“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 women at some stage in our life: your mother, your missus, something. So, I think Women in League round is so important.
“I don’t know why they had 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 are 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.
“I think Women in League round is so important. They just should have stuck with Women in League round and should have left it at that.
“It’s 2022. We know people are different. I don’t understand why they had to try to promote it.
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“They should have just left it (at) Women in League round, celebrate Women in League round, celebrate all the women in our lives and just get on with it.”
Sea Eagles revolt over pride jersey
The Sydney Morning Herald also reported that the decision to wear the pride jersey was made without the players being consulted.
One man in a unique position to comment on the relationship between a club’s football and non-football operations, and a mix of cultural and religious backgrounds in that environment, is Phil Gould.
Gould said the Sea Eagles had made an error by letting the marketing department make a decision that would impact the football department without consultation.
“This is a misunderstanding from someone far removed from the football operation, in marketing and promotion and other things that they do, not understanding the cultural beliefs of some of their players,” Gould said.
“Religion is very, very important to these people, and the beliefs of those religions, particularly the Pacific Island boys, and I guess they were probably just taken aback by it.”
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