Wakefield Trinity star Tom Johnstone takes brutal swipe at ex-Catalans Dragons man Israel Folau

One news story has dominated the scene after seven Manly Sea Eagles stars stood themselves down for selection against Sydney Roosters today due to the club’s decision to wear a pride shirt celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community.

The seven players are understood to be the deeply religious Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula, Christian Tuipulotu and Toafofoa Sipley, who claim that they were not asked before the new jersey was announced.

Those seven players refused to wear the new shirt, but were willing to put on the traditional Manly strip. That, however, wasn’t possible with the NRL’s rules not allowing players to wear an alternative strip on the same field.

That being said, the club stood firm on their decision and they came the first club in rugby league’s 114-year history to wear a jersey — titled Everyone in League — celebrating diversity and inclusivity in the NRL.

In light of the criticism of the Manly seven, ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys said: “The game prides itself on treating everyone as a human being, no matter what their race, colour or sexual orientation,” he told 2GB. “We’re all human beings at the end of the day.

“Rugby league is the greatest game for all. 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.”

But, Maria Folau, the wife of Israel Folau, the former Catalans Dragons man who was banned from returning to the NRL after his Rugby Australia contract was torn up in 2019 following homophobic comments, spoke out on the issue last night, stating: “‘We’re all human beings at the end of the day’… Umm so what’s Izzy??….A donkey? “The hyspocrisy (sic.) from this man and this organisation @nrl #PeterVlandys What a joke!!!!”

Wakefield Trinity star Tom Johnstone, who will link up with Folau’s former team the Dragons in 2023, took exception to the post, simply answering Mrs Folau’s question: “a homophobe.”