Something strange and beautiful is happening in Australian sport this week.

Who'd have ever thought we'd see the day when two heterosexual Wallabies players would create national news over social media comments about marriage equality?

Alas, the reaction of many telling Folau to keep his opinions to himself are disappointing. They cloud an important social issue because it distorts the debate into one about freedom of speech when it should be about marriage equality.

Folau hasn't crossed a line.

Personally, I don't agree with him and it saddens me because Folau is a world-class athlete with thousands of supporters and his voice is an important one. Just two years ago, he very publicly condemned homophobia. Rugby, in many respects, has been a leader in this area.

But if his religious faith or otherwise means he doesn't back marriage equality then it's his choice.

It is completely different to the rancid comments of former Knights player Ryan Stig, who four years ago compared homosexuality to the work of the devil and alcoholism.

When Folau is attacked for voicing his own beliefs, it politicises the issue into something that it is not or ever meant to be.

While the AFL and FFA have been riding the marriage-equality train for some time, this week's events that have seen the NRL, Cricket Australia and the ARU climb on board were sparked by a simple but heartfelt letter from Ian Roberts to NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg.

AOC chief executive Matt Carroll says his organisation won't be backing marriage equality because he does not want to anger religious groups, although this column has been told there are rumblings at board level because they were not consulted.

The Australian Paralympic Committee did have the full support of its board when it declared that marriage equality was part of the DNA of its organisation.

Right on cue, many are angrily questioning what all this has to do with sport. It has everything to do with sport because sport is about people. Major sporting codes and those who play them have a louder voice than almost anyone else.

The ARU is not angry about Folau's tweet, although dismayed at its timing given they just backed same-sex marriage.

Three years ago, Pocock was slapped down for chaining himself to mining equipment alongside other protesters at the ??controversial Maules Creek coal mine in north-west NSW.

"While we appreciate David has ??personal views on a range of matters, we've made it clear we expect his ??priority to be ensuring he can fulfil his role as a high-performance athlete," the ARU said at the time.

The ARU own their players as footballers. They don't own their souls.

Anyway ... It's all been very interesting.

This from reader Peter Leonard of Tweed Heads wins the week: "I have a confession to make: I have a son who is gay, and a son who follows Manly. I worry about one of them."

Cartwright's smart call

Penrith star Bryce Cartwright is back, baby, and if you're looking for reasons you don't have to go any further than something as simple as his phone.

Cartwright earlier this year banned himself from using social media following tawdry reports he allegedly paid a woman $50,000 to have an abortion.

In early May, he and the rest of the City team were ordered by coach Brad Fittler to put their phones away during the camp leading into the match against Country.

Fittler considers social media to be poisonous to a player's mindset and has for years told them and his own coaching staff they can only use their phones in their hotel rooms.

Like many players, Cartwright had a voracious appetite for social media. The fans would be horrified to know how much it impinges on players' lives, their mental state, even the use of their thumbs. (We made that last one up).

Since the City camp, Cartwright has abandoned it altogether. And we're told by those at the Panthers he's much happier for it.

Freddy set for the nod

Speaking of Fittler, the word out of the NSWRL preso at The Star on Monday night is he will soon be appointed Blues coach.

NSWRL chairman George Peponis is presently overseas and won't return to Sydney until next week, but the feeling on the night was the former Blues captain and Channel Nine commentator would be given the mandate to turn the Origin beat around.

Andrew Johns is expected to be involved but suggestions Phil Gould would step into the advisor role currently occupied by Peter Sterling are not correct. Gould is likely to come into the fold but not in any official capacity.

Pet hires celebrity agent

The Penthouse Pet who went nuclear in The Daily Telegraph this week about having consensual group sex with Warriors players has been managed recently by "celebrity" agent Max Markson.

Max is going well. You'll recall he represented Eddie Hayson last year. (He didn't respond to text messages on Thursday).

Fairfax Media was approached a few months ago by Belinda Medlyn, who wanted to sell her story about her relationship with Warriors forward Bodene Thompson and how their 15-month-old child was conceived while a teammate was watching.

She claims Thompson owes child support. He denies it.

Fairfax Media had deep reservations about the child learning later in life via the magic of the internet about his parents' activities.

Bigger than the result

Manly coach Trent Barrett has felt some heat this week for squaring up the referees following his side's loss to Penrith.

But here's an indication of what Barrett, his players and his club are all about.

Donna Boyd is a Sea Eagles fan, as her nickname "Princess Eagle" suggests. In 2013, she was diagnosed with terminal metastatic breast cancer.

On Saturday night, the SCG Trust provided Donna and her family with a suite to watch the sudden-death finals match.

Then, despite the heart-breaking loss and the circumstances in which it happened, Barrett, captain Daly Cherry-Evans and the other players welcomed the Boyds into their solemn dressing-room.

Ride for rocket

Bloody cancer. It's also tormenting the Shire's Josh "Rocket" Rees, a devout Sharks supporter who has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair.

He has recently undergone treatment for cancer, too, and it follows the death of his father to the disease three years ago.

A group of mates with a passion for cycling will on September 27 embark on the 622-kilometre ride from Caringbah to Wagga to raise money for Josh and his mum, who is now his only carer.

The ride is being led by former NRL strength and conditioning coach Trent Elkin and you can donate at www.gofundme.com/ride-4-rocket.

Starc rejects Warne claims

Suited and booted: MItchell Starc. Photo: Gregg Porteous

Mitch Starc says he owes Shane Warne nothing.

His transformation from lethal one-day fast bowler to Test mainstay who will be critical in this summer's Ashes series has very little to do with Warne's cheap barbs three years ago.

You'll remember them. Warne called Starc "soft" and "nonchalant" while calling a Test between Australia and India for Channel Nine. To the outsider, it was seen as catalyst for Starc's emergence as one of the world's best quicks.

"I don't think so," Starc says. "People can think that if they want, he can think that if he wants, but it was different things. There was anger around those comments but there was a turning point around that stage after the World Cup [in 2015]. That period through the one-dayers of that summer instilled a sense of belonging in the team that I hadn't had before. My white-ball stuff was thereabouts but in the Test arena I hadn't had that sense of belonging. It coincided with those comments - but that wasn't the underlying reason why things started to change."

And now? Now, the 27-year-old is slipping into a fancy suit and being unveiled this week as one of several mentors for leading menswear brand Van Heusen alongside Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli, Paralympic legend Kurt Fearnley, swimmer James Magnussen and snowboarder Scotty James.

"I usually only wear one to the Allan Border or Steve Waugh Medal," he quipped.

Before you know it he will be slipping into his cricket whites for the Ashes. Starc is slowly making his way back from a foot injury but is certain to feature in the series against England.

Australian selectors have a serious headache on their hands. With off-spinner Nathan Lyon bowling so well, how do they find room for Starc and fellow quicks Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and Josh Hazlewood?

"If we can all get on the park and we're all on track, it will be interesting," Starc says. "You've got Nathan Lyon who is bowling the house down and the four of us who can play many roles. Josh is your banker, who bowls line and length. The other three in Pattinson, Cummins and myself can bowl a little quicker and more aggressively and attack the stumps. We all work well together."

Like many in the Australian squad, Starc hasn't played an Ashes series at home. He's played two in England, both ending in bitter defeat.

There were fears the series wouldn't go ahead because of the bitter pay dispute between the players and Cricket Australia.

"We always knew deep down the Ashes wouldn't be affected," Starc admits. "We knew the ACA and CA would sort things out before then."