No doubt there would still be some pissed-off players in the "Rainbow 17", but you can't take anything written by "The Mole" as gospel. Those quotes read like generic talking points and it's likely they're simply made up. It really is that easy to "quote" an "unnamed player" or source.
I hope the players can forgive each other and play like a team, but we won't really know until the end of the season. Either they'll come together or… they won't.
There's an article in the SMH today that quotes Kieran Foran and offers a little more hope:
‘They’ll be welcomed back’: Foran opens up on Manly peace summit
Kieran Foran has insisted the seven Manly players who stood themselves down for last week’s match against the Roosters rather than wear the club’s rainbow jersey will be warmly received by their teammates and fans this weekend.
Foran on Tuesday became the first Sea Eagle to speak about the weekend peace talks between the players. The veteran five-eighth admitted tensions were running high after Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolu Koula and Toafofoa Sipley objected to the jersey on religious and cultural grounds.
Their refusal to play in the crucial game against the Roosters
sparked a nationwide debate over
inclusivity and rugby league’s attitude towards the LGBTQ community.
Manly lost to the Sydney Roosters 20-10 with a host of debutants and inexperienced players in their line-up, and Foran told the Herald the players needed to bury their differences quickly if they were to salvage their season.
After lock forward Jake Trbojevic met with Aloiai on Sunday,
a large group of players came together later in the day at the club’s Brookvale HQ to clear the air.
“Last week felt so rushed, there were so many things said, so Sunday was a good opportunity to park those differences and move forward,” Foran said.
“It was natural for both sides to feel frustrated. That was the reality of it That was also why it was really important we had that meeting on Sunday. It was about being able to respect and get an understanding of one another’s position and how we all felt inside.
“It was great to speak and start the week fresh. When you can respect each other’s position, it’s actually quite easy to put your differences aside and come together. At the end of the day we’re footy players, so let’s get on and play footy. That’s as simple as it gets.”
The seven players were told to
stay at home last Thursday for fear they would be subjected to abuse by their own fans at 4 Pines Park.
But Foran tipped those same supporters to show only love for the returning players when Manly’s season goes on the line against Parramatta on Friday night.
“Those seven will be welcomed back, 100 per cent,” Foran said. “Everyone has a role to play in this team. None of us are bigger than the club. They missed last week because of their beliefs, that’s fine, but they will all come back and things will revert to normal.
“My gut feel is they will be fine with the crowd. They’ve stuck to their beliefs, and it’s not our place - or anyone’s place - to judge them on that.
“They’ve all done a great job when they’ve put on the Manly jersey, and that will continue until the end of the year. They’ll all put their best foot forward.
“This is a huge game for the club in terms of the context of our season, but also a huge game for us as a group. There are a couple of big motivating factors right there to try and win.”
“We need to get on with things and fight for the bigger cause, which is trying to go deep into the premiership.”
While Aloiai is still recovering from a knee injury, the remaining six boycotters were named in the Manly squad on Tuesday afternoon.
The Sea Eagles should have beaten Parramatta earlier this year when they lost Tom Trbojevic to a shoulder injury, then were harshly penalised for a late hit by Tuipulotu on Hayze Perham, which fired up coach Des Hasler afterwards in the press conference.
Again, why we're willing to lose a player and leader like Foran is beyond me.
