Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
G'day, I'm Walter Kenti Blitz, your daily hit of NRL news, and we're back.
Chapter 2: What challenges did Kane Evans face before coming out?
We had yesterday off, Kenti. Good long weekend?
Yeah, it was pretty quiet. I went down to Sussex Inlet just for a couple of nights away, and when I got down there, I discovered that the Viking Festival was being held there.
Convenient.
Went along and had a look at that. I tell you what, some people live in different worlds than us was. Watched the Viking battles and the whole bit, and everyone walked around in their Viking outfits. You didn't get involved? No, no, I didn't get involved. I've got a Viking hat. I'll bring it in. Yeah, look, I enjoyed it.
Chapter 3: What is the significance of Israel Folau's potential NRL return?
I did enjoy it.
Chapter 4: How did Kane Evans' struggles impact his life and career?
But, yeah, it was a bit of fun.
Chapter 5: What were the highlights from the worst game of the year?
And, of course, Kenty, I think we should talk about this. You had some great news this morning.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I saw the doctors this morning. It's been three months since my treatment stopped.
Chapter 6: Why did Billy Slater gamble on Reece Walsh for Origin?
So it's all come back clear at the moment. Congratulations, mate. Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.
Chapter 7: What are the shocking changes in NSW's Origin selection?
It's funny. It's a bit of a weird feeling, actually. I thought I'd be sort of really euphoric, but I'm a bit ā Yeah, it's like I don't trust the results.
Yeah, right.
You know what I mean? But anyway, yeah. So what's the next step? Oh, I've just got to wait now and just every three months for a couple of years, just get tested. I'm going to have another scan in three months just to be doubly sure.
Okay. Well, congratulations.
But at the moment, I can't whinge anymore.
Great news. Well done, mate.
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Chapter 8: How does Kane Evans' story resonate with the rugby league community?
Very good news. I'm sure everybody will love that. So well done. Let's get stuck in. So Cain Evans has revealed the painful news that he's come out as being a gay footballer.
Yeah, well, it's a painful life journey he's been through, Cain. I tell you what, it was fascinating and heartbreaking watching it. And I know Kane's father, Spud Davies, who played at Balmain and played up Central Coast and terrified opposition players, a bit like Youngbloke did.
And I've known Kane not really that well, but his dad would always, oh, you know me, Youngbloke Kane, have you met him? And that sort of stuff. Obviously, no one had any idea, but... I think he's going to come out as a bit of a hero. I think he will become a really powerful person now in the community, in the rugby league community, but just the broader community as well.
Ian Roberts came out as a gay man 32 years ago, and nobody has come out in rugby league since. Recently, I think it was only last year or the year before, the AFL had a player come out as bisexual. But it's still very much an area that people in... male sports don't come forward and talk about and certainly don't admit to.
And in some ways, Ian Roberts has been left to carry the can whenever there's a gay issue. For example, the manly rainbow jerseys of a few years back. Whether he wanted to or not, he was brought into that debate. because people needed a gay player to talk to, someone that he had skin in the game. And whether he wanted to be the spokesman for that or not, he was that.
And I think that Kane Evans will begin to be regarded in that way if he chooses. He could not... take that up and just decide to walk away and not be a spokesman.
But the way he handled himself and the way he spoke about it and this raw honesty that he brought to it, it was difficult to watch, but you couldn't help pulling for the guy and just really wishing, come on, mate, get there, you're okay. And the fascinating thing I find about these sorts of situations is There's the anxiety and shame and all that that the people feel.
Why is it so tough for these guys, Kenny? Oh, I don't know, because I'm not gay, okay? And so I haven't lived that. But I can kind of... I can sort of empathize with the whole what it's like to be in public with people looking, people point, oh, they're so-and-so, when you're in the news. And it's not a pleasant place to be. And from a gay player point of view, where it's so far against the norm,
It takes a lot to put yourself in that place. It's much easier in many respects to just stay there and let nobody know. But over time, clearly in Kane Evans' place, it began to take its toll on him. He didn't feel like he was living as a young man. And in the interview, he actually says, which was heartbreaking to hear, he had three goals in life. One was to play the NRL, which he achieved.
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