‘A Weight Has Lifted’: Kane Evans Finds Freedom after Coming Out as Gay

A weight has lifted from former NRL player Kane Evans' shoulders after he publicly came out as gay, a journey he described as fraught with addiction, suicidal thoughts, and homelessness.

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I had three goals in life... And it was to play NRL, to buy my parents a house, and then I wanted to top myself, because I was living in denial from a young age.

Evans, who played 131 times in the NRL, revealed in an interview that hiding his sexuality led him to build walls and live in denial. He confessed to having suicidal thoughts, stating, "I had three goals in life... and I wanted to top myself, because I was living in denial from a young age."

His path to acceptance was aided by support from the Rugby League Players Association and Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson. Joe Galuvao of the RLPA encouraged Evans to seek help, saying, "you deserve to live a good life and you deserve healing." This prompted Evans to enter rehabilitation.

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you deserve to live a good life and you deserve healing

Robinson, who gave Evans his NRL debut, also provided significant support after his rehabilitation. He invited Evans to Roosters headquarters, assured him of the club's backing, and even paid four weeks of his rent out of his own money. "He called me just to let me know that the Roosters are still my home and they’ve got my back, whatever I’m facing," Evans said.

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He called me just to let me know that the Roosters are still my home and they’ve got my back, whatever I’m facing.

Evans is the first male professional rugby league player to come out since Ian Roberts over 30 years ago. Celebrating four months of sobriety, he hopes his story will empower others to live authentically. "I’ve carried (hiding my sexuality) around my whole life," he stated. "I’m here today to show people that you don’t have to live like that."

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Robbo, out of his own money, paid four weeks of my rent as I had just gotten into a place that week.