Why this Kangaroos rugby league jersey will be on sale at Rebel stores across Australia – except at Westfield Bondi Junction

EXCLUSIVE

Rebel has resumed selling Kangaroos jerseys, such as those worn by deranged knifeman Joel Cauchi during his fatal stabbing at the mall in April, but will not stock the jersey at its Westfield Bondi Junction store.

Ghostly images of Cauchi stalking shoppers in Sydney while wearing the green and gold colors of the Australian rugby league team have become symbolic of the attack and have been published around the world.

Rebel has an outlet on the fifth floor of the Bondi Junction complex, on the same side of the shopping center where five women and a man were stabbed to death by Cauchi.

The retailer stopped selling Kangaroos clothing in the wake of the massacre, but the jumpers and other merchandise are now available online and in all stores except Bondi Junction.

Rebel declined to comment on the decision, but Daily Mail Australia understands that Bondi Junction staff have strongly advised the head office against resuming sales of the jerseys in their store.

“They tested the temperature of the team and were very adamant: don’t do it,” said a source familiar with the discussions.

The source said wearing a Kangaroos jersey in the eastern suburbs shopping center would “still be considered quite provocative”.

There had been no call as to whether or when Rebel would ever restock the jersey at Westfield Bondi Junction.

Sales at other Rebel stores 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 the Cook Islands.

The Kangaroos play New Zealand at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday afternoon after losing last year’s championship final to the Kiwis in a 30-0 thrashing.

The new strip differs from Cauchi’s in that car manufacturer Kia has replaced Gallagher’s business insurance, risk management and consultancy as the front of the shirt sponsor.

Cauchi, who was originally from Queensland, was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 17 and had been sleeping rough since moving to Sydney before the massacre.

He was shot dead by the first police officer on the scene, Inspector Amy Scott, after heroic members of the public tried to restrain him and shop staff locked customers in their stores.

Westfield Bondi Junction reopened to shoppers on April 19, after management offered those affected the chance to walk through the complex a day earlier

The dead were: new mother 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.

A photo taken after the massacre showed Inspector Scott crouching over Cauchi and calling for help as he lay dead on the ground.

Westfield Bondi Junction reopened to shoppers on April 19, after management offered those affected the chance to walk through the complex a day earlier.

Obviously it would have been impractical to remove every piece of Kangaroos gear from all Rebel stores nationwide, but many stores outside Bondi Junction were not selling the jerseys at the time.

Before Rebel confirmed sales had been halted, the managing director of Classic Sportswear – which produces the Kangaroos kit – said he was unaware of a supplier taking jerseys off the racks.

“We have not yet had any retailers inform us that they have stopped selling the Kangaroos range,” Michael McDonald told Daily Mail Australia in early May.

Classic Sportswear has an exclusive partnership with the NRL to supply clothing for the Kangaroos, Jillaroos, Prime Ministers XIII, Indigenous All Stars, Maori All Stars and Junior Kangaroos.

Daily Mail Australia understands the decision to withdraw the jerseys was made shortly after the Bondi Junction attack, in recognition of what had happened. The jersey worn by Joel Cauchi (left) is slightly different from the latest Kangaroos jersey (right)

Mr McDonald said the last major delivery of Kangaroos products to retailers took place ahead of international competitions in October.

“The new 2024 Kangaroos range will not be available at retailers until later this year, around September,” he said.

“If there are retailers not offering Kangaroos products for sale, it is likely because they are currently out of stock.”

NRL sources were also unaware of a retailer ceasing sales of Kangaroos equipment.

The jerseys were still available from nrlshop.com and other retailers, including Peter Wynn’s Score at Parramatta, while Rebel halted sales.

Rebel was founded in 1985 in Bankstown, south-west Sydney, and describes itself as ‘Australia’s largest sports retailer with the widest range and best global brands’.

It is owned by Super Retail Group, which also includes BCF, Macpac and Supercheap Auto.