Haneen Zreika AFLW player used to play rugby league football in the past.
Haneen switched to Australian rules football when she was 15 years old. Currently, she wears the #4 for her team, Greater Western Sydney.
Earlier, she played for Auburn-Penrith Giants in the AFL Sydney. Well, Haneen used to play mixed-gender rugby until she was 6 but was forced to quit the game when she turned 12 as there was no competition for the girls of her age.
Who Is Haneen Zreika? AFLW Player Who Switched From Rugby League Football
Haneen Zreika is a rules football player who currently plays in the AFLW. She was nominated for the AFLW Rising Star Award in 2019.
Reportedly, she grew up in western Sydney with her four siblings. From the very beginning, she played rugby with her brothers and was a huge fan of the Canterbury Bulldogs.
As mentioned earlier, she was introduced to rules football when she turned 15. Later, Strathfield South High School introduced her to the Auburn-Penrith Giants.
Well, Haneen played in the top women’s division of the AFL Sydney. Moreover, she made appearances in the 2016 AFL Youth Girls National Championships too.
In 2017, she made a return to rugby football in the Tarsha Gale Cup. According to Wikipedia, she played for Canterbury as their hooker.
Reportedly, Zreika was drafted in the 2017 rookie draft by Greater Western Sydney. However, she got delisted at the end of the 2018 season.
After a strong season in the AFL Sydney, they listed her again as their 69th pick. Today, she is an important inside midfielder for her current team.
EXCLUSIVE: AFLW player Haneen Zreika will not be named in the Giants’ team to play against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night after deciding she could not wear the club’s pride jumper for religious reasons. @petryan reports:https://t.co/as7dHuiAZ8
— Real Footy (AFL) (@agerealfooty) January 27, 2022
Everything To Know About Haneen Zreika Pride Jumper Controversy
After Haneen Zreika’s pride jumper controversy, she will be unavailable for Giants’ next fixture.
The Age confirms that the midfielder will not play against the Western Bulldogs on January 28, 2022. Well, Haneen has confirmed that she can’t wear the pride jumper due to religious issues.
Reportedly, the pride jumper will be worn to support the LGBTQI+ community. So, there are rumors that she doesn’t support them at all.
However, these allegations are false. Show Biz Comer can confirm that Haneen supports the community on her level but will not wear a pride jumper as her religion doesn’t allow her to do so.
Indeed, this has been a difficult decision to make. Nevertheless, the club supports her option and will be without Haneen in their upcoming fixture.
Is Haneen Zreika Muslim? Family Background Explored
Yes, Haneen Zreika is Muslim. She deeply respects her religion, Islam.
Moreover, she is the first Muslim and the first person of Lebanese background to play in the AFLW. We can confirm that her maternal family hails from Lebanon.
Reportedly, Zreika’s mother migrated to Australia when she was 16. Although she has Lebanese ethnicity, Hannen claims her nationality to be Australian as she was born and raised there.