Former NRL enforcer Kane Evans has become just the second professional player in the competition to publicly come out as gay. He shared the news in an emotional interview on Channel 9. The 34-year-old spoke openly about a part of his life he had long kept private. His decision to speak out has drawn attention across the rugby league community.
In the interview, Evans revealed that his sexuality had once been used against him. He said people had tried to blackmail him during his playing career after they found out he was gay. The experience, he explained, left a heavy mark on him at the time. He described being targeted by those who had learned what he was keeping private.
Evans was candid about the emotional toll of those years on him. He said the situation built up a great deal of shame, fear and guilt within himself. "He tried to throw me under the bus and it just built up a lot of shame and fear and guilt within myself," he said. The weight of hiding who he was, he suggested, became difficult to carry.
Beyond his sexuality, Evans also spoke about other struggles he had faced over the years. He detailed his battles with alcohol and substance addiction. He also revealed that he had experienced suicidal thoughts during that period. Together, the disclosures painted a picture of a difficult personal journey behind his public career.
For Evans, speaking publicly now was about sending a message to others. "I'm here today to show people that you don't have to live like that," he said. He framed his decision as a way to help those who might be going through similar experiences. His hope, he indicated, was that others would not feel as trapped as he once had.
The former player also described a sense of relief that came with finally being open. "Even now I feel a bit more free just by saying it out loud," he said. The simple act of acknowledging his identity publicly appeared to lift part of the burden he had carried. It marked a clear shift from the years of silence he had described.
Evans's decision places him among a very small group within professional rugby league. He is only the second male player in the competition to come out publicly as gay. His openness about blackmail, addiction and mental health added further weight to the interview. The account offered a personal look at the pressures he faced both during and after his playing days.