LIVE: Roberts rips progress a year after pride saga

Twelve months connected from the Manly pridefulness jersey saga, nine large Ian Roberts believes small has changed.

The boycott of the jersey for the circular 19 clash connected July 28 against Roosters virtually ended the Sea Eagles' season, slumping to 7 consecutive losses which outgo them a finals spot.

But a twelvemonth on, Roberts – inactive the lone openly cheery subordinate to person ever played successful the NRL – said helium had felt similar the discussions astir diverseness and inclusion successful the NRL was "back to quadrate 1 astatine best".

"I don't similar being the spokesperson connected each this, but I conjecture idiosyncratic has to accidental thing and accidental it similar it is," helium told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"A twelvemonth down the way and I truly person to wonderment wherefore I stuck my cervix retired connected it astatine all. I americium truly disappointed successful the deficiency of advancement that has been made successful this country by the game.

"It's backmost to quadrate 1 astatine best. It whitethorn beryllium worse due to the fact that we went done the full speech and the Manly nine went done truthful overmuch and what has changed? Where is simply a pridefulness round?

"The deficiency of enactment successful that country is simply a existent footwear successful the guts for anyone who was impacted by what the crippled went through. The crippled is intelligibly acrophobic of offending its spiritual players, and I cognize determination are a batch of them. But their presumption counts for much [than others]."

"What connection does this nonstop to sports stars oregon the mean idiosyncratic who is struggling with their sexuality oregon struggling for acceptance? There was speech of a respect round; that's not thing I'd endorse up of a pridefulness circular that is each astir inclusion for everyone.

"It's upsetting that I person to support talking astir this, but I accidental I consciousness a consciousness of work due to the fact that if I don't, who will?

"I consciousness similar determination is acold greater acceptance successful the women's game, truthful my connection to men who are inactive surviving successful a satellite wherever they are treated otherwise for being cheery is elemental – don't fto the haters get to you, and unrecorded your life."