Manly’s Josh Aloiai has broken his silence on the pride jersey controversy in stunning fashion, branding rugby league great Corey Parker an “idiot” over the arguments he posed and declaring he will again refuse to wear the jumper if the Sea Eagles reboot the concept.
Aloiai also revealed that his gay sister “totally understood” his stance and was bemused at the media’s enormous interest in the story, and that his family received death threats.
Seven Manly players — Aloiai, Josh Schuster, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley — rocked the rugby league world when they rejected the club’s pride jersey initiative in round 20, opting against playing.
READ MORE: Paine points finger in explosive sexting claim
READ MORE: Sad end as Fifita’s ‘body won’t let him go on’
READ MORE: Astounding revenge play gets Simmons ejected
The NRL was already set to celebrate Women in League round, but the Sea Eagles took the inclusivity theme a step further by introducing a rainbow jersey for their clash with the Roosters at Brookvale Oval.
“She knows that I love her to bits,” Aloiai told 9News when asked about his sister’s reaction to his decision.
“Throughout all of this happening we did have a chat, and she totally understood where I was coming from. She rang me up and she was like, ‘How are you going? Are you all right? It’s so crazy … the way the media’s blown this out of proportion’.
“Corey Parker — he came and said, ‘Don’t pick and choose’. He hammered us in the media. ‘You ran out with your gambling sponsor jerseys and your beer sponsor stadium’. I would love for him to show me in the Bible where it mentions gambling. It doesn’t. Nor does it forbid alcohol within itself. But he’s an idiot.”
Aloiai was blunt when asked if he’d be willing to wear a pride jersey in 2023 or beyond.
“The short answer there is no, I won’t,” he said.
“We didn’t compromise this year, we won’t compromise next year or the year after.
“Difference of opinion is not a difference of respect.”
Aloiai drew a parallel between his beliefs and those of atheist players.
“You should never be put in a situation where your religious views or your cultural views and beliefs conflict with your job,” the front-rower said.
“Like our atheist boys … for Easter round (if) we wanted to wear a Christian jersey and they weren’t comfortable in doing that then it’s all the same. I’ll support them.
Ian Roberts’ emotional message to Manly players
“We still have nothing but respect for people that choose to live that way of life. We don’t personally want to live that way or endorse it, but at the same time, we quietly took our stance, we didn’t say anything hateful or hurtful.
“Instead, we were the ones that were called everything under the sun. Death threats, my family got threats, I got threats about about my son.
“I jumped off social media for a little while just to have a little detox.”
Aloiai spoke to 9News’ Emma Lawrence in England, where he is with Samoa for the Rugby League World Cup.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
