Newcastle Knights forward Asu Kepaoa has been handed a six-match ban after pleading guilty to using a homophobic slur during a reserve-grade NSW Cup match. The incident occurred in the round-of-16 clash against St George Illawarra last week, where Kepaoa was sent off before half-time and referred directly to the NSWRL judiciary.
Judiciary Hearing and Apology
The 26-year-old faced the NSWRL judiciary on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to the charge. In acknowledging the harm caused by his words, Kepaoa issued a personal apology. The former Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers player has yet to make his senior debut for the Knights since his move from the Panthers.
Club Statement on Inclusive Values
Newcastle released a statement on Wednesday affirming that such language has no place at the club. “The Knights accept the outcome and fully support 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 will work closely with Kepaoa to ensure he receives appropriate education around the impact of language and the responsibilities that come with representing the Newcastle Knights and the values we stand for.”
Precedent and Context
Players are referred directly to a judiciary hearing for the most serious offences or when the appropriate punishment is not immediately clear. In 2022, Warriors NRL player Marcelo Montoya received a four-game ban for using a homophobic slur toward North Queensland winger Kyle Feldt. Several AFL-listed players, including Max Knobel, Koby Evans, Izak Rankine, and Lance Collard, have also been suspended over homophobic slurs in recent seasons.
Kepaoa’s alleged incident comes only weeks after former Sydney Roosters prop Kane Evans became the second male NRL player to come out as gay, and the first since the 1990s. Kepaoa has played 43 NRL games, all for the Tigers between 2020 and 2024.
