Manly prop Josh Aloiai has backed the idea of a Respect Round, giving the first indication he would be prepared to play if such a fixture was inserted into the NRL’s calendar.

Aloiai created headlines last year when he was one of seven Sea Eagles who refused to wear the club’s rainbow jersey on religious grounds.

The drama marked the beginning of the end for coach Des Hasler, as Manly lost their last seven games and spiralled out of finals contention.

Aloiai said in October he would still not wear a pride jersey in 2023, as Manly flirted with the idea of rolling out a similar strip this year.

But the 27-year-old is open to a league-wide Respect Round.

The idea was floated by ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys as far back as last November, when he told AAP respect for other people’s views was not a political issue.

“There are ways you can do it where you don’t upset anyone,” V’landys said at the time.

“If we do it, we have to have the format to do it the right way. It’s all about respecting each other.

“We have to respect that (some people) have a different view to the rest of us.

“The most important thing in my eyes is we’re all equal, it doesn’t matter what colour, what creed or sexual orientation.”

No such round has yet been confirmed for this year’s schedule, but it remains possible the NRL could include it later in the season.

“I really like that idea, it’s a really good idea,” Aloiai said this week. 

Manly have since indicated they will not go it alone in the space, preferring to wait on the NRL to decide any initiative before joining.

All seven players who sat out last season’s round-20 loss to the Sydney Roosters remain at the club, but Aloiai said the squad had moved on and the issue had not been raised in the pre-season.

“We don’t talk about that,” he said. 

“We’re really positive and we come into training really happy with where we’re going. I feel like we’re on the right trajectory with the right buy in.”

Aloiai also said new coach Anthony Seibold had united the playing group, something he said was evidenced in their pre-season challenge title win.

“Just change in general can be really refreshing,” Aloiai said.

“Seibs has come in with a real focus to unite the group and bring us together. And I dare say we are closer than we have ever been. 

“You can see it in the day-to-day. We’re rock solid, and you see bits and pieces of that in the trials.

“Seibs’ mentality to come in and galvanise the group has been a really good approach. It’s been a really big positive for us.”