Roosters coach admits club could have done better for Kane Evans

Roosters coach Trent Robinson says Kane Evans’ emotional coming out as gay has been a source of pride and reflection for his club given his former player didn’t feel comfortable enough to do so during his playing career.

Evans became just the second player to come out in professional Australian rugby league this week, after delivering a confronting interview on Nine’s 100% Footy that detailed his battles with alcohol, substance addiction and suicidal thoughts while wrestling with his sexuality.

The former Tricolours back-rower said Robinson had been instrumental in his recent recovery and paid four weeks of Evans’ rent out of his own pocket after he had been homeless. The Roosters have also helped finance Evans’ ongoing mental health treatment after a stint in a rehabilitation clinic.

But Robinson deflected any praise on Thursday and instead focused on why Evans had felt he needed to hide his sexuality during a 74-game career at the Roosters.

“I’m really proud of the club, but we still 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.

“There’s a lot of positivity coming towards Kane, and then even towards us, but we’re still not at a place where somebody can come out while they’re playing.

“And so the reflection for me has been that we do things to support our players and former players, and we try and do our best, but have we got the complete right environment? I think we can be better.

“I think there has been positivity this week, and there should be towards Kane because he’s the brave one. Towards us, I think it should be a reflection on how do we do better.

“There are more gay players in the game – there has to be – and we’re still not at a point where they will come out in the male game. They will in the women’s game but not in the male game.”

More to come.