The seven Manly Sea Eagles players boycotting Thursday night's NRL clash against the Roosters have been told not to attend the fixture at Sydney's 4 Pines Park due to safety concerns.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the players had been withdrawn from being selected over their refusal to wear the club's pride jersey, featuring a rainbow in place of traditional white stripes.
The jersey is the first of its kind in the NRL.
However, Manly took up the opportunity to introduce it without consulting its players.
The boycotting group are Jason Saab, Tolutau Koula, Haumole Olakau'atu, Josh Schuster and Kiwi players Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Alioai and Toafofoa Sipley.
Their objections are reportedly based on respective cultural and religious grounds.
And according to Australia's Daily Telegraph, the players have been advised not to attend the fixture at Manly's home ground due to fears of "crowd violence or anti-social behaviour" towards the group.
The loss of the players in question has seen Manly struggle to field a team to face the Roosters.
A total of 10 changes have been made to the side from last week's loss to St George Illawarra Dragons, including two debutants on the respective wings.
The Telegraph also reported multiple players outside of Manly's first-grade side knocked back the chance to play against the Roosters for similar reasons to the seven stood down.
Utility James Segeyaro will come off the Sea Eagles' bench in his return to the NRL for the first time since 2019, having not featured since testing positive for a banned substance while playing for Brisbane Broncos.
On Tuesday, Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler apologised for his club's "mismanagement" of the launch of the pride jersey.
