Overview
- On Monday Evans told Channel Nine’s 100% Footy he is gay and said the admission felt like a weight lifted after two decades of hiding his sexuality.
- He described long-running alcohol and drug addiction, repeated suicidal thoughts, and periods of homelessness that followed the end of his playing career.
- Evans credited RLPA past-players manager Joe Galuvao with tracking him down in Sydney and getting him into rehab, and he celebrated more than four months of sobriety in May.
- He said Roosters coach Trent Robinson and the club offered practical support after rehab, including helping pay part of his treatment costs and covering four weeks’ rent.
- Evans is only the second male professional rugby-league player in Australia to come out publicly since Ian Roberts in the 1990s, a development that commentators say could prompt leaders to tackle blackmail, secrecy and welfare gaps in the sport.