Kane Evans has said he now feels “free” after becoming only the second male NRL player to publicly come out as gay, also admitting at the same time that he has long struggled with addiction, suicidal thoughts, and homelessness as he grappled with his sexuality.
Evans, who played 131 games in the NRL for the Roosters, Eels, and Warriors, spoke about his battles in an interview on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday. He credited RLPA staffer Joe Galuvao, in particular, with helping him.
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The former prop’s first NRL coach, Trent Robinson, also played a huge role by reaching out after Evans came out of rehab and helped pay his rent over the last few months.
Evans is just the second men’s professional rugby league player who has competed in the NRL to come out as gay after Ian Roberts, who came out publicly more than 30 years ago. During his career, now-34-year-old Evans was considered one of the game’s most feared forward enforcers, much like fellow pathsetter Roberts.
“I had three goals in life. It was to play NRL, to buy my parents a house, then I wanted to top myself, because I was living in denial from a young age,” Evans said.
“I know I’m gay. “But I went down every other avenue to build up these walls. To be someone, to escape who I am. I’ve carried [hiding my sexuality] around my whole life.
“I’m here today to show people that you don’t have to live like that. Even now I feel a bit more free, just by saying it out loud, I’ve brought it to the light.”
“I’ve had people blackmail me. I’ve had people try to throw me under the bus, and I’ve had people try to deflect their problems by trying to out me. And it just built up a lot of shame, and fear and guilt within myself.
“Now I’ve spoken about it, I’ve shattered all those chains. They’ve lost their power.
“I feel like coming and speaking to you today, fear, shame, guilt – all of that, I’ve cut ties with all that.”
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“I feel peace within, and I feel like a weight has lifted off my shoulders. I’m a bit proud of myself, and when I look in the mirror, I’m going to smile now, not have those bad thoughts,” Evans said during the now-viral interview on Monday evening.
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Evans retired from rugby league in 2023 after several seasons with English Super League team Hull FC. Through his career, he played 13 Tests for Fiji internationally.
He also played for NSW City in 2015 and turned out for the 2016 World All Stars game.
