Aloiai Gone

[Terry Zarsoff]

On a related note, some food for thought for a few on here. From Adrian Proszenko, SMH:

‘They’d heard the rumour Ian was gay’: Three stars threatened to boycott Kangaroos tour over Roberts

By Adrian Proszenko
October 19, 2025 — 5.00am

Three of the biggest names in Australian rugby league threatened to boycott a Kangaroos tour because they did not want to room with Ian Roberts after hearing rumours that he was gay.

The shocking revelation comes from Light – The Ian Roberts Story, a documentary scheduled for a cinematic release to coincide with next year’s State of Origin series. It is a chance for Roberts – the first and only Australian professional male rugby league player to come out as gay – to tell his incredible life story.

Continue at link:

‘They’d heard the rumour Ian was gay’: Three stars threatened to boycott Kangaroos tour over Roberts

The revelation that a trio of senior Kangaroos told team bosses they would not tour if Ian Roberts was selected is contained in a new documentary to be released next year.

www.smh.com.au

 

[robbiea]

Inconsistent ,injury prone player ,never strung more than 2 good games together.
Onwards & upwards.

 

[manlyfan76]

On a related note, some food for thought for a few on here. From Adrian Proszenko, SMH:

‘They’d heard the rumour Ian was gay’: Three stars threatened to boycott Kangaroos tour over Roberts

By Adrian Proszenko
October 19, 2025 — 5.00am

Three of the biggest names in Australian rugby league threatened to boycott a Kangaroos tour because they did not want to room with Ian Roberts after hearing rumours that he was gay.

The shocking revelation comes from Light – The Ian Roberts Story, a documentary scheduled for a cinematic release to coincide with next year’s State of Origin series. It is a chance for Roberts – the first and only Australian professional male rugby league player to come out as gay – to tell his incredible life story.

Continue at link:

‘They’d heard the rumour Ian was gay’: Three stars threatened to boycott Kangaroos tour over Roberts

The revelation that a trio of senior Kangaroos told team bosses they would not tour if Ian Roberts was selected is contained in a new documentary to be released next year.

www.smh.com.au

And nobody has come out since, even if they are on film getting a guy suck them off.

 

[jbb/james]

We went through all this before, during and after the whole "Jerseygate" drama, so there's very little point in going over any of it again.

But… Nobody tried to force Josh to wear a "Gayness is Great" jersey. He, and the other Manly players who sided with him, were asked to wear a Manly jersey, and because that jersey had rainbow-coloured stripes on it, and was said to be promoting tolerance and inclusivity, they refused.

A team jersey is exactly that: a team jersey. It is not a symbol of individual freedom and expression. If it has a sponsor's name on it, it does not mean every player fully endorses that sponsor or its product. If it attempts to promote a cause or initiative - say, Indigenous Round or the Women in League Round, or anything else - it does not mean that individual players support and endorse those causes. The clubs and the NRL endorse those causes. But the players? I'm certain plenty of anti-women and "Why do I have to be welcomed to my own bloody country?" types have worn Women in League and Indigenous Round jerseys over the years, and as far as I'm aware, none of them ever felt the need to stand up for their "culture" or "individual beliefs" and refused to wear those jerseys.

As for "courage", I'm not so sure that being anti-gay is all that courageous in this day and age. Or that it ever was. I suspect Josh, who fancies himself as a bit of "anti-woke" crusader, saw an opportunity to politicise something that should have never been politicised and took it. The club's uselessness, a controversy-loving media, and the NRL's weakness did the rest.

And what an absolute f@cking debacle it was. Nothing good came out of it.

But none of that was the sole responsibility or fault of Josh Aloiai, and we should try to remember his contributions on the field for the club. At his best, he was a hard-running, hard-hitting, no-nonsense forward - exactly the type of player we could have used a lot more of over the last couple of years. Injuries were never kind to him, and I'm not sure we ever really got full value out of him, but having to medically retire is a cruel end to a career.

I wish him happiness, health and fulfilment for the future. And I sincerely hope his next job does not require him to wear a uniform of any kind.

I really do enjoy reading your posts on a regular basis, but that is an absolute gem Ronnie
it deserves more than a like.

 

[47MVEagle]

On a related note, some food for thought for a few on here. From Adrian Proszenko, SMH:

‘They’d heard the rumour Ian was gay’: Three stars threatened to boycott Kangaroos tour over Roberts

By Adrian Proszenko
October 19, 2025 — 5.00am

Three of the biggest names in Australian rugby league threatened to boycott a Kangaroos tour because they did not want to room with Ian Roberts after hearing rumours that he was gay.

The shocking revelation comes from Light – The Ian Roberts Story, a documentary scheduled for a cinematic release to coincide with next year’s State of Origin series. It is a chance for Roberts – the first and only Australian professional male rugby league player to come out as gay – to tell his incredible life story.

Continue at link:

‘They’d heard the rumour Ian was gay’: Three stars threatened to boycott Kangaroos tour over Roberts

The revelation that a trio of senior Kangaroos told team bosses they would not tour if Ian Roberts was selected is contained in a new documentary to be released next year.

www.smh.com.au

If I recall correctly, it was Terry Hill who roomed with Roberts on that tour.

 

[lsz]

On a related note, some food for thought for a few on here. From Adrian Proszenko, SMH:

‘They’d heard the rumour Ian was gay’: Three stars threatened to boycott Kangaroos tour over Roberts

By Adrian Proszenko
October 19, 2025 — 5.00am

Three of the biggest names in Australian rugby league threatened to boycott a Kangaroos tour because they did not want to room with Ian Roberts after hearing rumours that he was gay.

The shocking revelation comes from Light – The Ian Roberts Story, a documentary scheduled for a cinematic release to coincide with next year’s State of Origin series. It is a chance for Roberts – the first and only Australian professional male rugby league player to come out as gay – to tell his incredible life story.

Continue at link:

‘They’d heard the rumour Ian was gay’: Three stars threatened to boycott Kangaroos tour over Roberts

The revelation that a trio of senior Kangaroos told team bosses they would not tour if Ian Roberts was selected is contained in a new documentary to be released next year.

www.smh.com.au

Worth a read for those who think their way of thinking does not have the potential to impact others

 

[C_Eagle31]

Cya Oshay, thanks for your efforts. Seems the 'tolerant' leftists are more hatefult than Josh ever was. He wasn't hateful, just wouldn't stand for something that goes against his beliefs. Don't know if I'd have the balls to do the same if my employer put me in the same position, so respect for that.

You've never heard of the paradox of tolerance, have you?

 

[C_Eagle31]

Honestly? Glad he's gone.

Threw a hissy fit at the Tigers, then the whole pride jersey thing, and last year expressed support for Donald Trump (all you need to do is look at the fascist hellhole the US is descending into because of Trump).

And let's not romanticise his efforts as a player, he was inconsistent at best and directly cost us wins in multiple games during his tenure here - dropped the ball cold in our own 20 against the Rabbitohs in 2023 (leading to Ilias' field goal), sin binned late in a close game against Parra last year, and hit SJ's leg against the Warriors also last year, which directly cost us the win. And that's not even counting 2022, which not only cost Manly's season but also Des Hasler's job, and the reason why we now have Seibold.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

We went through all this before, during and after the whole "Jerseygate" drama, so there's very little point in going over any of it again.

But… Nobody tried to force Josh to wear a "Gayness is Great" jersey. He, and the other Manly players who sided with him, were asked to wear a Manly jersey, and because that jersey had rainbow-coloured stripes on it, and was said to be promoting tolerance and inclusivity, they refused.

A team jersey is exactly that: a team jersey. It is not a symbol of individual freedom and expression. If it has a sponsor's name on it, it does not mean every player fully endorses that sponsor or its product. If it attempts to promote a cause or initiative - say, Indigenous Round or the Women in League Round, or anything else - it does not mean that individual players support and endorse those causes. The clubs and the NRL endorse those causes. But the players? I'm certain plenty of anti-women and "Why do I have to be welcomed to my own bloody country?" types have worn Women in League and Indigenous Round jerseys over the years, and as far as I'm aware, none of them ever felt the need to stand up for their "culture" or "individual beliefs" and refused to wear those jerseys.

As for "courage", I'm not so sure that being anti-gay is all that courageous in this day and age. Or that it ever was. I suspect Josh, who fancies himself as a bit of "anti-woke" crusader, saw an opportunity to politicise something that should have never been politicised and took it. The club's uselessness, a controversy-loving media, and the NRL's weakness did the rest.

And what an absolute f@cking debacle it was. Nothing good came out of it.

But none of that was the sole responsibility or fault of Josh Aloiai, and we should try to remember his contributions on the field for the club. At his best, he was a hard-running, hard-hitting, no-nonsense forward - exactly the type of player we could have used a lot more of over the last couple of years. Injuries were never kind to him, and I'm not sure we ever really got full value out of him, but having to medically retire is a cruel end to a career.

I wish him happiness, health and fulfilment for the future. And I sincerely hope his next job does not require him to wear a uniform of any kind.

This is a great post, thank you.
And thanks to @jbb/james for quoting it, otherwise I'd have missed it.

 

[The '47ers]

And nobody has come out since, even if they are on film getting a guy suck them off.

$20 is $20

 

[Buddy Love]

I really do enjoy reading your posts on a regular basis, but that is an absolute gem Ronnie
it deserves more than a like.

Nice post 👍

Only thing is i wouldn't wear it and no one who's serious about their religion would either.

Nothing should be forced onto people especially without any notice at all. Terrible decision to even do such a thing and it's clear it was a bad decision by what happened and why NO other club will do the same.

Just sayin'

 

[Buddy Love]

Honestly? Glad he's gone.

Threw a hissy fit at the Tigers, then the whole pride jersey thing, and last year expressed support for Donald Trump (all you need to do is look at the fascist hellhole the US is descending into because of Trump).

And let's not romanticise his efforts as a player, he was inconsistent at best and directly cost us wins in multiple games during his tenure here - dropped the ball cold in our own 20 against the Rabbitohs in 2023 (leading to Ilias' field goal), sin binned late in a close game against Parra last year, and hit SJ's leg against the Warriors also last year, which directly cost us the win. And that's not even counting 2022, which not only cost Manly's season but also Des Hasler's job, and the reason why we now have Seibold.

What did he do in 2022? He was pretty crap 💩 wasn't he

 

[C_Eagle31]

What did he do in 2022? He was pretty crap 💩 wasn't he

The Pride Jersey thing.

Yes he was one of eight guys to boycott, but he was very clearly the ringleader in it all. And he hasn't shut up about it.

 

[C_Eagle31]

You've never heard of the paradox of tolerance, have you?

Let me help you Ned; the paradox of tolerance is a concept which basically states that if a society extends tolerance to everyone, including those who are intolerant, it risks enabling an intolerant society - this undermines the principles of tolerance.

Think of it like maths; multiplying a positive and a negative results in a negative, but multiplying two negatives results in a positive. Same with the concept of tolerance.

Aloiai is intolerant of LGBT+ people. Because the NRL wants to be tolerant of everyone, they won't even touch a Pride Jersey for the foreseeable future because of the Manly 8's actions. And thus, there is a culture of intolerance in the NRL.

 

[manlyfan76]

 

[eaglebuzz]

Honestly? Glad he's gone.

Threw a hissy fit at the Tigers, then the whole pride jersey thing, and last year expressed support for Donald Trump (all you need to do is look at the fascist hellhole the US is descending into because of Trump).

And let's not romanticise his efforts as a player, he was inconsistent at best and directly cost us wins in multiple games during his tenure here - dropped the ball cold in our own 20 against the Rabbitohs in 2023 (leading to Ilias' field goal), sin binned late in a close game against Parra last year, and hit SJ's leg against the Warriors also last year, which directly cost us the win. And that's not even counting 2022, which not only cost Manly's season but also Des Hasler's job, and the reason why we now have Seibold.

Wow, what news sources do you need to follow to conclude that the US is "descending into a fascist hellhole"?

 

[eaglebuzz]

Aloiai is intolerant of LGBT+ people.

Ah yes, that's why he has such a terrible ("tight") relationship with his gay sister.

Heaven forbid people react negatively to their employer putting them in a position of being perceived to publicly endorse an ideology that they disagree with, without consulting them first.

But as many have already said, this whole issue has been played out so many times on this forum.