The Manly Sea Eagles' release of a pride jersey has resulted in seven of the club's players opting to sit out for this week's game.
A one-off 'Everyone In League' design - which features rainbow trim and details - was created with the intention to promote inclusivity and respect.
MORE: Des Hasler addresses pride jersey rollout
Why are some Manly players refusing to wear the jersey?
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, some players cited cultural and religious grounds as their justification for not wanting to wear the jersey.
The wider playing group was also reportedly not consulted by the club prior to the release of the jersey on Monday.
Which Manly players are refusing to play?
Seven players are reported to have refused to play in the one-off pride jersey.
Des Hasler confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday that all those individuals will miss the match against the Roosters.
Those players are believed to be Josh Aloiai, Tolu Koula, Haumole Olakau'atu, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Toafofoa Sipley and Christian Tuipulotu.
Who will replace the absent Manly players?
Des Hasler has had to bring in a raft of replacements for Thursday's clash with the Roosters.
Pio Seci, Alfred Smalley, Zac Fulton and James Roumanos will all make their debuts this week.
Notably, James Segeyaro will make a return to the top flight, having not featured in the NRL since his time at the Broncos ended in 2019 due to a drug ban.
He had most recently played for Manly's feeder side Blacktown.
Team lists for round 20 can be viewed here.
Will the seven Manly players still be in attendance?
According to the Daily Telegraph, the seven players who have withdrawn have been told to stay away from 4 Pines Park on Thursday night.
This follows a reported meeting between the club and NSW Police, with concerns for the players' safety.
What has former Manly player Ian Roberts said?
In 1995, Ian Roberts became the first rugby league player to come out as gay.
The prop and second-rower played for the Sea Eagles between 1990-95 and represented the Kangaroos and Blues throughout his career.
He told The Daily Telegraph about the impact of this pride jersey controversy.
“I try to see it from all perspectives but this breaks my heart,” Roberts said.
“It’s sad and uncomfortable. As an older gay man, this isn’t unfamiliar.
"I did wonder whether there would be any religious pushback. That’s why I think the NRL have never had a Pride round."
“I can promise you every young kid on the northern beaches who is dealing with their sexuality would have heard about this.”
Will the NRL force the players to play?
There is no official word on whether the NRL will force certain players to play due to the jersey, although it would be an unlikely move.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys shared his thoughts about the recent events on Tuesday morning.
“Rugby league is the greatest game for all,” V'landys told 2GB.
“It’s inclusive. But at the same time, you have to respect people’s religious beliefs and cultural beliefs.
“Those players are taking a stand and they’ve got every right to — they’ve got freedoms to do so.”
Are the Manly pride jerseys on sale?
The pride jerseys went on sale via Manly's online store on Monday and were listed as sold out on the same day.
There has been no word on whether the club will make more jerseys available.
Has a player refused to wear a pride jersey before?
Manly's jersey is the first pride jersey to be featured in the NRL, so this scenario is a first for the league.
However, it has been a topic of discussion in Australian sport before.
Last year in AFLW, Haneen Zreika was withdrawn from the Giants’ team for one match after choosing to not wear the club’s pride guernsey, citing religious reasons.
Pride in Sport's statement on the Sea Eagles jersey
In response to news on the release of the Sea Eagles’ Pride jersey, Pride in Sport, the national not-for-profit program that supports Australian sporting organisations and clubs in all aspects of LGBTQ inclusion, has issued the following statement.
“We acknowledge the process and consultative issues mentioned by the Manly Sea Eagles today – and their apology to LGBTQ+ people and any other community members who have had concerns and felt hurt by the media commentary around this issue. Conversation, education and building understanding are key to respectfully moving forward on these important discussions in our communities.
“At its most basic, a Pride jersey signals a fundamental value: everyone should feel safe to play. We strongly support the NRL in its endeavours to continue to uphold values associated with inclusivity, safety and belonging, and we would urge all people to think about these as non-controversial values we can unify around.
“Further, we thank the many athletes and administrators involved in any sport where there are Pride jerseys and Pride rounds for their support. We also want to thank the fans for attending these games, buying the jerseys, and showing their support.
