The Sydney Roosters have appointed Kane Evans to an assistant coaching role with their NSW Cup team as their former player searches for full-time employment and rebuilds his life.
Evans earlier this month detailed his battles with alcohol, substance addiction and suicidal thoughts while wrestling with his sexuality during an emotional interview aired on Channel Nineโs 100% Footy.
In that interview, Evans, who spent the first four seasons of his eight-year NRL career at the Bondi club, revealed the role coach Trent Robinson had played in saving him from himself.
โHe called me just to let me know [that] the Roosters is still my home, and that theyโve got my back in whatever Iโm facing,โ Evans said. โโRobboโ, out of his own money, paid four weeks of my rent, because I had just got into a place that week.โ
Robinson said after the story aired: โIโm really proud of the club, but we still had a guy here for six years that didnโt feel open enough to say that he was gay while he was here.โ
Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly said Evans was working in scaffolding and had been exposed to homophobic slurs on various job sites in recent weeks, but had kept his head down until the Roosters made him an offer.
Evans started work last week with the clubโs reserve grade team, which is coached by Brett Morris, while he appeared at the NRLโs side captainโs run last Saturday.
His infectious personality has been good for the players, while being back around a team environment has been hugely beneficial for the 34-year-old Evans.
Roosters owner and chairman Nick Politis said the role was only temporary, but that the club was happy to help Evans during his time of need.
โItโs only a small role, weโre trying to help him find a proper job out there,โ Politis told this masthead. โI saw him the other day at training wearing all the gear. He loves it, he was glad to feel a part of something again, and it was nice to see him back.โ
There are no plans for Evans to make a comeback on the field at the Roosters, although there are hopes he will pull the boots on again before the end of the season with the Glebe Dirty Reds in the Ron Massey Cup.
Evans featured in the clubโs 2024 premiership, and returned for one game this year, only to get suspended.
On their Facebook page, the Reds posted after Evansโ interview with James Bracey: โNot sure weโve ever been prouder of a Glebe Dirty Reds player. What an amazing man. The absolute definition of brave. Weโre behind you Kane. Canโt wait to see you run out for us again in a few weeks time.โ
Club president Darren Flynn said on Tuesday night: โAs a club, weโre enormously supportive of Kane, and our first priority is to ensure he is in a good place off the field.
โWe are very much looking forward to seeing him back in our Ron Massey Cup line-up when heโs ready later this season.โ
Evanโs Roosters return comes as Newcastle forward Asu โAJโ Kepaoa prepares to learn his fate before the NSW Rugby League judiciary on Wednesday after allegedly calling a St George Illawarra rival a โf—ing f—-tโ during a game last Friday.
He faces a minimum of a month on the sidelines after pleading guilty to a charge of contrary conduct.
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