Folau wants AFL to be successful?

[Kimlo]

"It will probably take a bit of time (but) I certainly hope they (the AFL) can make a few inroads however long it takes," Folau said.

"I hope it goes well for them."

"Rugby league is really big in western Sydney and I'd like to see a bit of a change and see how that goes."

"I'd certainly like to see the league game stay up there but for a little bit of change I want to see AFL get a bit of (a foothold) out there."

http://sportal.com.au/League-news-displ ... ives-85535

I know this was mentioned in another thread but IMO it deserves it's own thread.
What the hell is Folau on about and why would any RL player make a comment like that???

Discuss.

 

[ningnangnong]

As i said in the other thread, i bet he's been misquoted.

Sportal seem to be the only ones running with this story.

 

[Coxy]

Incorrect.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 14,00.html

Folau not reading the script

It was meant to be a day to promote the game in rugby league heartland, but someone obviously forgot to hand the script to NRL All-Stars winger Israel Folau.

In an interview that had league boffins cringing noticeably in the background, Folau sang the praises of the AFL over their plans to establish a foothold in the area.

The Brisbane Broncos flyer started his career with Melbourne Storm and admitted he had acquired a taste for the rival code during that time.

"I hope the AFL get a bit of a run here around this area and hopefully it grows for the future," Folau said.

"I know that rugby league is the bigger game around here, but we'll see what happens over the next couple of years. I would be a bit worried if they came out a bit stronger than league, but like I said before it will take a bit of time for that."

It was an embarrassing gaffe given the NRL had deliberately chosen the western Sydney suburb of Blacktown to promote Saturday's All-Stars game on the Gold Coast.

 

[ningnangnong]

Cool.

 

[Coxy]

Interestingly the quotes are a bit different aren't they...but the message is the same.

 

[Bannermania]

Bah. Who cares? He likes a different sport, good on him. He's free to speak his mind, and obviously as an ambassador for the game, he slipped up.. but he's human.

 

[Bucking Beads]

AFL is not a threat to the NRL so why does it matter. The NRL has its own problems starting with its administration and Tv deal!!

 

[Kimlo]

It's an epic stuff up, I hope he gets told just as much.

 

[Coxy]

Bah. Who cares? He likes a different sport, good on him. He's free to speak his mind, and obviously as an ambassador for the game, he slipped up.. but he's human.

For sure. But it'd be akin to Malcolm Turnbull coming out and bagging his party's policy on climate change...............................oh, wait........... :P

 

[Charmamba]

I hope AFL goes well. I also hope NRL grows in AFL cities and that union can grow as well.

I hope Basketball rises again and that Soccer has some decent crowds.

I hope Australia as a whole learns to embrace all sports and become the sporting country we once got called.

 

[Coxy]

I hope AFL goes well. I also hope NRL grows in AFL cities and that union can grow as well.

I hope Basketball rises again and that Soccer has some decent crowds.

I hope Australia as a whole learns to embrace all sports and become the sporting country we once got called.

That's very noble of you.

I love my rugby league, and couldn't give a **** about any other sport. I just want League to continue to grow and thrive. What anyone else does is no interest to me unless it's intended to hurt league - which the AFL's said is part of their intention for the gold coast and west sydney teams.

 

[Bannermania]

It's exactly what the NRL did 11 years ago by creating a Melbourne franchise.

Moving in on solid AFL-territory.

But bear in mind, the Gold Coast has been home to an AFL team before (Brisbane Bears anyone) and the AFL simply wants to caputre what is probably likely the most profitable area in sports at the moment, the Gold Coast.

 

[Coxy]

It's exactly what the NRL did 11 years ago by creating a Melbourne franchise.

Moving in on solid AFL-territory.

But bear in mind, the Gold Coast has been home to an AFL team before (Brisbane Bears anyone) and the AFL simply wants to caputre what is probably likely the most profitable area in sports at the moment, the Gold Coast.

Well judging by the less than auspicious start to the Gold Coast United soccer franchise, I'm not convinced the region is THAT profitable.

As for the Storm, I don't recall at any stage them or the NRL saying they intend to kill the AFL. Apart from anything else it'd be a laughable suggestion. They've merely said they want to gain a presence there.

The AFL on the other hand have said they intend on turning NSW and QLD into AFL states - ie, where AFL is the number 1 code...that's their battle plan. Laughable though it may be, they are equipped financially to make it happen.

 

[Hatchy]

I just like League and AFL. I don't give a damn what happens to any other sport around here, they could go and blow eachother up for all I care.

And as someone said, it's a free country, so Izzy has every right in the world to go and say that in pure league territory.

 

[Coxy]

I just like League and AFL. I don't give a damn what happens to any other sport around here, they could go and blow eachother up for all I care.

And as someone said, it's a free country, so Izzy has every right in the world to go and say that in pure league territory.

Well yes and no...he was speaking in his role as part of the NRL All Stars to promote the All Stars game...it wasn't appropriate.

 

[ningnangnong]

I just like League and AFL. I don't give a damn what happens to any other sport around here, they could go and blow eachother up for all I care.

And as someone said, it's a free country, so Izzy has every right in the world to go and say that in pure league territory.

A word of advice young padawan...when Coxy has sand in his vagina about a particular issue, there's no point arguing with him. [icon_wink

 

[Nashy]

Does anyone actually care that much?

 

[Bannermania]

lol. not really.

It's not actually going to affect anything, other than us discussing it.