The AM Show hosts are defending Maria Folau's support for her husband, Israel, as he receives criticism for setting up a GoFundMe page to fund legal action.
Israel's contract was terminated last month after Rugby Australia found he breached its code of conduct with a homophobic Instagram post. He considers the termination unlawful and is looking at launching legal action over the matter.
- Netball star Maria Folau escapes sanctions for sharing husband Israel Folau's GoFundMe page
- Maria Folau's support of husband Israel understandable - Peter Fitzsimons
- Liz Ellis slams Netball Australia's stance on Maria Folau
Earlier this month, Israel began a GoFundMe page to crowdfund money for the legal action. The page raised over AU$630,000 (NZ$664,051) before it was shut down on Monday afternoon.
But his wife, Maria, a Silver Ferns and Adelaide Thunderbirds netball player, has also come under fire for supporting her husband by reposting the GoFundMe page on Instagram over the weekend.
She has escaped sanction from Netball South Australia so far, but a number of prominent former players have criticised her actions.
Australian netball great Liz Ellis said on Monday: "Anyone who is seen to support or endorse homophobia is not welcome."
But The AM Show host Duncan Garner said on Tuesday that Maria didn't deserve the criticism.
"Have your fun with Israel Folau, say your point, give your point of view.
"But Maria Folau, she should, and is right to, support her husband and we should back off her."
He also criticised Labour MP and former Silver Fern Louisa Wall for saying Maria needed to "wake-up" and be a role model.
"I don't know when [Israel] is ever going to wake-up, but hopefully his wife will... There is a bit of a challenge for Maria if she wants to be a role model for all young people," Wall said.
Garner said Wall shouldn't be passing judgement.
"How dare you? She is a role model for young people and she is a role model for people in her community. She stands for different values perhaps to you Louisa, and I don't think Louisa Wall can actually pass judgement on this.
"I think it is poor form from her, she should butt out of it."
The AM Show's sport presenter, Mark Richardson, agreed, saying to go after Maria was like a "witch hunt" while newsreader Amanda Gillies said the Silver Fern was right to support her husband but potentially opened herself up to criticism.
"I think she is right to support her husband, and she does, and he is her everything," Gillies said.
"However, you do wade into the debate when she retweeted his cause and then maybe puts herself up for it."
Former Wallaby Peter Fitzsimons also sympathises with Maria's predicament.
"I think a majority of people understand Maria Folau is just supporting her husband and that's understandable that she would," Fitzsimons said.
The now-journalist and successful author expects Folau will escape any punishment from New Zealand Netball, which is due to make a statement on Tuesday.
"I'm sure netball has a code of conduct and I'd imagine there is some sort of clause there on homophobia," Fitzsimons said.
"When Netball NZ looks at her comments and dives deep, they will assess if there is a breach there. All they can do is find out if they have a case there and I'd be personally surprised if Maria's post breached any form of code of conduct."
Newshub.
