The seven Manly players who boycotted Thursday night’s clash due to the club’s decision to wear a pride jersey are fuming at a claim by the club’s owner that they were willing to soften their stance.
Manly owner Scott Penn told 9News that the players were open to wearing the rainbow jersey next season as long as they were consulted before a decision was made.
“That’s the message that they were very clear on: let’s work together,” Penn said on Thursday, just before the clash with the Roosters.
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But on Friday night, a representative of the group blasted those comments.
“Manly 7 fuming about claim they will soften their stance on pride jersey,” 9News sports reporter Danny Weidler said.
“A representative of the group contacted me to say ‘they don’t backflip on religious beliefs’.”
The representative added that to suggest they would fold on their stance was “totally untrue”.
Stream the NRL premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley all missed Thursday night’s match against the Roosters at Brookvale Oval due to religious and cultural beliefs.
The Roosters beat a decimated Sea Eagles side 20-10.
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