Roosters coach Trent Robinson is urging Australian sport to do better in creating a safe space after his former Sydney Roosters player Kane Evans came out as gay.
In an emotional interview with Channel Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday, the 131-time NRL prop became the first men’s professional rugby league player to come out since Ian Roberts more than 30 years ago.
He detailed his struggles with coming to understand his sexuality, speaking candidly about his drug addiction, suicidal thoughts and homelessness.
Evans also praised his former coach Robinson, who handed him his debut in 2014, helped pay his rent, and invited him to the Roosters’ headquarters after he finished a stint in rehabilitation.
But the Tricolours mentor wouldn’t take credit for his role in helping the 34-year-old, who also had stints with Parramatta and the Warriors.
‘I’m really proud of the club, but still, I had a guy here for six years that didn’t feel open enough to say that he was gay while he was here,’ Robinson said.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson (pictured) has warned the NRL not to rest on its laurels after Kane Evans came out as gay on Monday night
Evans (pictured playing for the Roosters) has been praised for revealing his struggles with his sexuality in a riveting TV interview
Robinson pointed out that while NRLW stars feel comfortable coming out, it’s a very different story in the men’s game (Evans is pictured during his TV interview)
‘We’re still not at a place where somebody can come out while they’re playing, and so the reflection for me has been we do things to support our players and former players, we try and do our best, but have we got the complete right environment still?
‘We can be better.’
Robinson warned that the Roosters and the NRL shouldn’t pat themselves on the back because of their role in helping Evans live with his struggles.
‘There are more gay players in the game, there has to be, and we’re still at a point where they won’t come out in the male game; they will in the women’s game,’ he said.
‘Hopefully whoever is out there feels really comfortable in their environment to do what Kane did, at a young age, and not feel the pain that Kane and others have felt for a period of time.’
Robinson heralded the 34-year-old’s courage to explain his story and reveal something that others haven’t felt comfortable doing.
‘We’re heading in the right direction, but suicide rates are really still very high because they (men) don’t feel comfortable enough,’ the coach said.
‘It doesn’t matter whether it’s being gay, having a religious belief, or political belief. Our place is safe enough, comfortable enough, where we look after everybody, and then we play tough footy on the back of it.’
Robinson is now shifting his focus to the Roosters’ Friday night clash against the Dolphins, when both sides will be without a plethora of stars because of State of Origin duties.
