NRL legend Ian Roberts has condemned the New Zealand Breakers’ decision to forgo the Pride insignia during the upcoming NBL Pride Round, calling it an act of cowardice and “homophobia in plain sight.”
Roberts, the first openly gay professional rugby league player, labelled the Breakers’ choice “shameful” in an interview with Morning Report, warning that decisions like this can have serious mental health consequences for young LGBTQIA+ people grappling with their identities.
“They’re absolute cowards,” he said. “Call it for what it is. This is homophobia. This is bigotry.”
“At least have the courage to stand up and say, ‘Yeah, I’m against this. I don’t support same-sex attraction. I won’t wear the badge.’”
A Controversial Decision for a Celebration of Inclusion
The Breakers are the second team to opt out of wearing the Pride insignia since the NBL Pride Round was introduced in 2023. The Cairns Taipans made the same move during the inaugural round.
This year, the Breakers said their decision was made collectively to avoid “singling out” individual players who had religious or cultural objections to wearing the rainbow logo. In a statement, the club said:
“Our players discussed the matter as a team and decided they would not wear the specific insignia. This is their choice, driven by a collective decision that wanted to protect individuals from being singled out for their personal convictions.”
They added that the organisation still supports Pride Round and LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and aims to remain a “safe, welcoming, and inclusive place for all, both on and off the court.”
“This Is About Saving Kids’ Lives”
Roberts, however, said the Breakers’ actions send a harmful message — particularly to vulnerable young people.
“The consequences can be catastrophic for kids who are dealing with their sexuality. You’ve got dickheads like this who want to jump up and wave their religious book or their culture around.”
He continued:
“I thought religion was supposed to be about embracing and loving and caring.”
The former Kangaroos and NSW Blues representative believes the team has failed to grasp how deeply meaningful events like Pride Round are to queer athletes and fans.
“That’s why I get so worked up when people push back against it — it’s just saying, we embrace you, you’re welcome.
“Events like this make people feel worthy, not isolated, not like freaks. It’s a celebration. There shouldn’t be any controversy.”
“This is about saving kids’ lives. That’s the bottom line for me.”
Breakers Respond, Acknowledge Roberts
In a statement following Roberts’ comments, the Breakers acknowledged his advocacy:
“We acknowledge the courage and leadership of Ian Roberts. He has been a strong advocate for a Pride Round in the NRL, and in sports generally.”
The club reaffirmed their support for the NBL Pride Round, stating they will continue to celebrate the diversity of LGBTQIA+ players, supporters, and community members.
Meanwhile, Roberts expressed hope that the club would reconsider their position before the Pride Round kicks off.
