EXCLUSIVE
Rebel has resumed selling Kangaroos jerseys like the one worn by deranged knifeman Joel Cauchi during his deadly shopping centre stabbing rampage in April, but will not stock the jumper at its Westfield Bondi Junction store.
Haunting images of Cauchi stalking Sydney shoppers while wearing the Australian rugby league team’s green and gold colours have become symbolic of the attack and were published around the world.
Rebel has an outlet on the fifth floor of the Bondi Junction complex, on the same side of the mall as five women and one man were stabbed to death by Cauchi.
The retailer halted sales of Kangaroos apparel in the wake of the carnage but the jerseys and other merchandise are now available online and in all stores except Bondi Junction.
Rebel did not wish to comment on the decision but Daily Mail Australia understands staff at Bondi Junction strongly advised head office against resuming sales of the jumpers at their shop.
‘They tested the temperature of the team and they were very firm: don’t do it,’ a source familiar with the discussions said.
The source said it was considered wearing a Kangaroos jumper within the eastern suburbs shopping centre ‘would still be viewed as pretty provocative’.
No call had been made about if or when Rebel would ever again stock the jersey at Westfield Bondi Junction.
Sales at other Rebel outlets and online resumed in time for the code’s Pacific Championships contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Cook Islands.
The new strip differs from the one worn by Cauchi in that car maker Kia has replaced Gallagher business insurance, risk management and consulting as front-of-shirt sponsor.
Cauchi, who was originally from Queensland, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia aged 17 and before the massacre had been sleeping rough since moving to Sydney.
He was shot dead by the first police officer on the scene, Inspector Amy Scott, after heroic members of the public tried to contain him and retail staff locked customers in their shops.
Those killed were: new mum Ashlee Good, 28, bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, 25, architect Jade Young, 47, security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, artist Pikria Darchia, 55 and economics student Yixuan Cheng, 27.
A dozen others were seriously injured in the attack including Ms Good’s nine-month-old daughter.
One image taken following the slaughter showed Inspector Scott crouched over Cauchi and calling for assistance as he lay dead on the floor.
Westfield Bondi Junction reopened to shoppers on April 19, after management offered an opportunity to those affected by the atrocity to walk through the complex a day earlier.
It is understood it would have been impractical to remove every piece of Kangaroos gear from all Rebel stores nationwide but many outlets outside Bondi Junction were not selling the jerseys at the time.
Before Rebel confirmed it had stopped sales, the general manager of Classic Sportswear – which manufactures the Kangaroos kit – said he was unaware of any stockist removing jerseys from its racks.
‘We haven’t had any retailers inform us that they have paused sales of the Kangaroos range,’ Michael McDonald told Daily Mail Australia in early May.
Classic Sportswear has an exclusive partnership with the NRL to supply apparel for the Kangaroos, Jillaroos, Prime Ministers XIII, Indigenous All Stars, Maori All Stars and Junior Kangaroos.
Mr McDonald said the company’s last major supply run of Kangaroos products to retailers was ahead of international matches in October.
‘The new 2024 Kangaroos range is not due to be with retailers until later this year, around September,’ he said.
‘Where there are retailers not displaying Kangaroos product for sale it is likely because they have no stock at present.’
NRL sources had also been unaware of any retailer pausing sales of Kangaroos gear.
The jerseys were still available at nrlshop.com and other retailers including Peter Wynn’s Score at Parramatta while Rebel paused sales.
Rebel was founded in 1985 at Bankstown, in Sydney’s south-west, and describes itself as ‘Australia’s leading sports retailer offering the biggest range and the best global brands’.
It is owned by Super Retail Group, which also includes BCF, Macpac and Supercheap Auto.
