Newcastle Knights forward Asu Kepaoa has been handed a six-match ban after pleading guilty to using a homophobic slur during an NSW Cup round-of-16 match against St George Illawarra last week. The incident occurred in the first half, leading to his dismissal from the field and an automatic referral to the NSWRL judiciary.
Judiciary Hearing and Guilty Plea
Kepaoa appeared before the NSWRL judiciary on Wednesday, where he admitted to the charge. The former Wests Tigers and Penrith player issued a personal apology, acknowledging the harm caused by his words. He has yet to make his senior debut for the Knights since joining from the Panthers.
Club Response and Commitment to Inclusion
Newcastle released a statement on Wednesday, accepting the outcome and emphasizing their values. "The Knights accept the outcome and fully supports the process," the statement read. "The Newcastle Knights are an inclusive club and pride ourselves on being a welcoming place for all players, staff and supporters. Language that causes harm to individuals or communities has no place in our club, in the NRL, or in our community." The club pledged to work with Kepaoa on education regarding the impact of language and his responsibilities as a representative.
Precedent and Context
Players are referred directly to a judiciary hearing for serious offences or when appropriate punishment is unclear. This incident follows similar bans in rugby league and AFL. In 2022, Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya received a four-game suspension for a homophobic slur against North Queensland's Kyle Feldt. AFL players Max Knobel, Koby Evans, Izak Rankine, and Lance Collard have also been suspended for similar conduct in recent seasons.
Recent NRL Milestone
Kepaoa's case comes weeks after former Sydney Roosters prop Kane Evans became the second male NRL player to come out as gay, the first since the 1990s. Kepaoa has played 43 NRL games, all for the Tigers between 2020 and 2024.
