Damning leaked emails have revealed a communication breakdown within Manly's football department was to blame for the rainbow pride jersey fiasco that made worldwide headlines, rather than being a failure of the Sea Eagles management and commercial operations.

Seven players boycotted the NRL Round 20 game against the Roosters on July 28, citing religious and cultural beliefs they said prevented them wearing the pride jumper and coach Des Hasler defended their stance, saying the design should not have been sprung on them just days before the game.

At the time it was thought head office had left the football department out of the loop on the pride jerseys, but new emails published by the Daily Telegraph show Manly's general manager of football Joe Bonasera was shown the design a full two months before the game, and gave assurances there would not be 'an issue' with all players wearing it.

However Bonasera never ran that past Hasler or the players and instead it ultimately divided the playing group and the club and put the Sea Eagles into headlines worldwide.

The jersey boycott by the seven players -  Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau'atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley -  split the dressing room and Manly went from top four contenders to finishing 11th after losing their last seven games.

In a bombshell development, newly revealed emails show Sea Eagles commercial boss Luke Tucker and Bonasera exchanged emails on May 24 - after the rainbow jerseys were approved by club management, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Tucker initially wrote: 'I just want to double check before production commences that we won't have any issues with any players wearing these jerseys for this one-off game.'

Manly wore a historic inclusive pride jersey in round 20 against the Roosters - but seven players stood down from the match, citing religious and cultural beliefs as the reason they refused to wear the jersey

Manly's general manager of football John Bonasera (pictured) told Sea Eagles commercial boss Luke Tucker he 'didn't see an issue' with the players wearing the jerseys back in May

Bonasera wrote: 'Don't see an issue at all mate.'

An attachment in the email also featured the design of the jersey.

Tucker went on to outline the club's motivation for producing the jersey.

'It's for everyone. Male, female, gay, straight, black, white, etc, etc. It's certainly not just focused on LGBTQ,' he wrote.

Inexplicably, Bonasera did not pass on the information to Hasler - and he has since apologised to the two time premiership-winning coach for his role in the saga.

Hasler is now widely tipped to leave the club, with his position viewed as untenable, with former Broncos coach Anthony Siebold his likely replacement either next season or in 2024.

Following the jersey saga, Manly went onto lose seven games on the trot, with Hasler now likely to be moved on - despite making the NRL Preliminary Final in 2021