3 hours ago
1
Ian Roberts has lauded the courage of Kane Evans after coming out as gay, hoping the seminal moment brings him peace and assists others struggling with their sexuality.
Evans - a Fijian international who played for NRL clubs the Roosters, Eels and Warriors - detailed his struggles with alcohol, substance addiction and suicidal thoughts while wrestling with his sexuality during an emotional interview aired on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night.
The 34-year-old became just the second male player to publicly come out as gay in professional Australian rugby league, and the first to do so since pioneering former NSW Origin and Kangaroos star Ian Roberts 31 years ago.
Roberts was mindful of not overshadowing Evans’ news, but felt it had the potential to change not only his life but those of others going through similar struggles.
“This is his moment. I’m very happy for him,” Roberts said.
“I don’t want to talk about me, this is his moment. I’m very happy that he has found some peace, or that he’s starting to.”
Roberts, who is in the process of completing a documentary on his life, said Evans’ story would bring awareness to the struggles many males faced in coming to terms with their sexuality.
“Hopefully it will make a lot more people sit up and pay attention to what’s going on in the real world,” Roberts said.
NSW Blues forward Victor Radley began his NRL career at the Roosters during Evans’ last season at the club.
“I love him as a bloke,” Radley said. “He’s such a good dude. I’m happy for him.”
Evans thanked the Roosters for their support throughout his career and made special mention of coach Trent Robinson. The premiership-winning mentor even organised to pay for part of Evan’s mental health treatment when he learned of his plight.
“That doesn’t surprise me at all, that’s the type of club they are,” Radley said.
“They look after their own and Kane is one of them. In 2017 when I started and he was in the side, he was the energy of the group.
“He was the one you’d want to see when you come into training, he was a good laugh.
“I can understand why the Roosters are supporting him and have said ‘this is your home.’
“He put everything he had into that club at the time he was there.”
Rugby league great Andrew Johns lauded the courage Evans displayed in coming out.
“He’s been struggling and hiding this for 20 years,” Johns told 100% Footy.
“It’s a very masculine environment in rugby league and he used words like guilt and fear and shamed. I can’t imagine the pain he has gone through at times.
“To come out now and tell the world, especially the rugby league world, it’s incredible the strength he has shown … he’s about to live the best part of his life, the second part of his life.”
More to come
