Roosters coach Trent Robinson believes Kane Evans’ decision to come out is both a sign of how far the game has come and an indication of how far is still has to go.

In an interview with 100% Footy presenter James Bracey that aired on the program on Monday night, Evans’ specifically thanked Robinson for his role in helping him out of the hole he had dug himself as he wrestled with his sexuality.

Kane Evans played 74 matches for the Roosters under Trent Robinson. Matt Roberts

Evans battled through alcohol abuse, substance addiction, suicidal thoughts and homelessness as he wrestled with his sexuality.

Evans, who played 74 games for the tricolours between 2014-2017, revealed Robinson reached out while he was in rehab, and then hosted him and some friends at Roosters HQ the week after he left.

He got a full tour of the club, and then once in Robinson’s office, was told the club would pay for his mental health programs.

In an extraordinary show of generosity, Robinson also dipped into his own pocket to personally pay four weeks of Evans’ rent.

Speaking to media on Thursday morning, Robinson said Evans’ interview was both a source of pride personally and for the club, but deflected any further praise.

“I’m really proud of the club, but we still had a guy here for six years that didn’t feel open enough to say that he was gay while he was here,” he said.

“There’s a lot of positivity coming towards Kane, and then even towards us, but we’re still not at a place where somebody can come out while they’re playing.

“And so the reflection for me has been that we do things to support our players and former players, and we try and do our best, but have we got the complete right environment? I think we can be better.

“I think there has been positivity this week, and there should be towards Kane because he’s the brave one. Towards us, I think it should be a reflection on how do we do better.

“There are more gay players in the game – there has to be – and we’re still not at a point where they will come out in the male game. They will in the women’s game but not in the male game.”

Evans is just the second player in professional Australian rugby league history to come out.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson speaking to media on Thursday. Nine

The NRL previously explored the idea of a stand-alone pride round in the men’s game in 2022, right in the middle of the Manly Sea Eagles pride jersey saga, in which seven players boycotted the club’s round 20 match, coincidentally against the Roosters.

Outgoing chief executive Andrew Abdo on Tuesday said there were currently no plans to revive the idea.

When asked what could be done that would make gay players comfortable coming out, a candid Robinson said the fact Evans didn’t feel comfortable coming out while playing had been a source of significant personal reflection.

“Some of that is personal with Kane, some of that is the environment we create,” Robinson said.

“We need to create an environment where somebody can be themselves, where they know they’re going to be accepted. (That) the language we use in clubs is right, the way we interact and the way we casually reference each other is right.

“Hopefully then whoever is out there (will be) comfortable in their environment, and can do what Kane did at a younger age and not feel the pain that Kane and others felt for a period of time.

“I don’t think we should take this as a pat on the back. We should take this as we saw a really strong man do something others haven’t felt comfortable to do, and hopefully that leads to others feeling comfortable, but we have to do better, we can do better than what we’re doing, and we’ll strive to do that.”

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