Israel Folau wants out... I'll show him the door.
- Thread starter Aeetee
- Start date
Bucking Beads
International Captain
- Mar 5, 2008
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Over it, Good Luck Folau, enjoy Sydney enjoy AFL... I have no doubt you will do well in AFL.
*sigh* How many times has this been covered?
Hannant? No. He was offered a big contract the Broncos couldn't match with or without Folau coming.
Ennis? Hard to say, but the Broncos couldn't afford to offer him what the Bulldogs did either.
Boyd? We lost him more because Bruno decided to honour his offer to Michaels...18 months on how dumb was that decision!
The players that we did directly lose for getting Folau were Kemp and Stagg. Both dearly wanted to stay but the Broncos couldn't offer Kemp a decent contract for 2009, and while Stagg could've initiated his option for 2009, the Broncos would've had nothing to offer in 2010 so gave him the chance to look elsewhere, and he got himself a good deal at the Dogs.
Yes, Folau came at a cost, but not the 5 or 6 players some people seem to blame him for.
Hannant? No. He was offered a big contract the Broncos couldn't match with or without Folau coming.
Ennis? Hard to say, but the Broncos couldn't afford to offer him what the Bulldogs did either.
Boyd? We lost him more because Bruno decided to honour his offer to Michaels...18 months on how dumb was that decision!
The players that we did directly lose for getting Folau were Kemp and Stagg. Both dearly wanted to stay but the Broncos couldn't offer Kemp a decent contract for 2009, and while Stagg could've initiated his option for 2009, the Broncos would've had nothing to offer in 2010 so gave him the chance to look elsewhere, and he got himself a good deal at the Dogs.
Yes, Folau came at a cost, but not the 5 or 6 players some people seem to blame him for.
Bucking Beads
International Captain
- Mar 5, 2008
- 24,608
- 7,911
The best thing is that the AFL are beating there chest and carrying on about KHUNT and Folau being 2 of the best NRL players and the AFL has poached them. The main thing that comes to mimd is that both players are going for the money no the game how will that look to furture team mates. I think if AFL got Lockyer in his prime or even Slater or Hayne that would have been a much bigger blow to NRL. Honestly AFL are going to suffer in the long run they are making there competition weaker by bringing in new team which will only makes there product shit. WHo cares that FOlau has gone the NRL will only produce another young star who knows it may be Yow Yeh who is due to shine,
LOLZ @ Jester.
As a fan I can understand why Donny is upset, but the reality is:
- players, including Folau, sign a contract saying they will be paid $X to play rugby league for the Broncos
- players train and play in order to earn said $X
- at end of contract players ask around to see what other clubs/sports will offer as $X
In the considerations are also things like:
- Do I want to play in Sydney, Brisbane, France, Bradford (zomg, no beach?!?!?, said Orford), Melbourne
- Do I want to play rugby league, rugby union, aussie rules?
- Do I want to leave my current teammates? Club infrastructure? Coach?
- Does Team Y offer me a good bunch of guys, good stadium, good facilities, good coach?
Honestly there'd be very very few players who would think their loyalty to their club goes very far in those considerations. Given Folau has spent about 18 months in the Broncos' system, why would it figure at all in his thinking?
A Lockyer, well, that's something different. He's been in the Broncos' system for more than 15 years. He would have no desire to go anywhere else, especially at this stage of his career. Credit to him though that when he signed his big 5 year deal in 2003 or whatever it was, the money was still being thrown around by Union and he could easily have taken the dollars to switch. He chose to stay loyal to the game and to the Broncos.
But he's the very rare exception to the rule in 2010...it's a new era, it's time people accepted it.
As a fan I can understand why Donny is upset, but the reality is:
- players, including Folau, sign a contract saying they will be paid $X to play rugby league for the Broncos
- players train and play in order to earn said $X
- at end of contract players ask around to see what other clubs/sports will offer as $X
In the considerations are also things like:
- Do I want to play in Sydney, Brisbane, France, Bradford (zomg, no beach?!?!?, said Orford), Melbourne
- Do I want to play rugby league, rugby union, aussie rules?
- Do I want to leave my current teammates? Club infrastructure? Coach?
- Does Team Y offer me a good bunch of guys, good stadium, good facilities, good coach?
Honestly there'd be very very few players who would think their loyalty to their club goes very far in those considerations. Given Folau has spent about 18 months in the Broncos' system, why would it figure at all in his thinking?
A Lockyer, well, that's something different. He's been in the Broncos' system for more than 15 years. He would have no desire to go anywhere else, especially at this stage of his career. Credit to him though that when he signed his big 5 year deal in 2003 or whatever it was, the money was still being thrown around by Union and he could easily have taken the dollars to switch. He chose to stay loyal to the game and to the Broncos.
But he's the very rare exception to the rule in 2010...it's a new era, it's time people accepted it.
lynx000
State of Origin Rep
- Jul 28, 2008
- 6,592
- 8,816
I would love to have a crystal ball. I foresee that both the Gold Coast and GWS are really going to struggle in their first years, copping regular floggings, poor crowds, the novelty value for the public will wear off very quickly and they just won't come to games. They are both entering two of the toughest markets for sporting teams.
It is a gamble for the AFL to sign these two, because the publicity factor will also have a very limited time frame if they are unable to compete consistently and stay in the first grade. What value will they present to their clubs or the AFL as publicity pawns if they are playing the second tier competition because their skills are not good enough to crack first grade. This is a very real possibility. If it occurs, enjoy counting the money boys because it will be a very long three years playing lower grades in front of shit crowds with no publicity.
It is a gamble for the AFL to sign these two, because the publicity factor will also have a very limited time frame if they are unable to compete consistently and stay in the first grade. What value will they present to their clubs or the AFL as publicity pawns if they are playing the second tier competition because their skills are not good enough to crack first grade. This is a very real possibility. If it occurs, enjoy counting the money boys because it will be a very long three years playing lower grades in front of shit crowds with no publicity.
- Mar 5, 2008
- 30,383
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I am surprised to see Coxy defending Izzy for once!
Have we signed Inglis yet?
Have we signed Inglis yet?
ningnangnong said:
Pretty much going by the old philosophy of "I disagree with what you say but defend your right to say it".
In this case, I disagree with what Izzy has done but will defend his right to do it and be treated appropriately.
I still have very little time or respect for him. He's a money chaser. But good luck to him, that's what he is. Same as Hannant. I can accept having Hannant knowing that he's all about the money and so not expect any loyalty at the negotiating table in the future.
To me there's a significant difference between Izzy and Hunt, who I was extremely critical of. Hunt made it clear he was intending to leave, but the reasons he was giving (experience a new culture, get out of the fish bowl etc) was all about moving overseas...then he signed a contract for a team 100km down the M1 in a different sport that would attract nationwide attention and shrink the fishbowl even further. He was hypocritical. Though his apologists point to his little Yawnion stint in Frogland to say he honoured his statement of seeing the world and experiencing culture etc....
Folau never said he was staying. Never said he was going. Said it was a hard decision, and that all the offers he was getting were very tempting.
To me it was simply a case of umming and ahhing and then ultimately taking the best offer. He never made any grandiose statements of loyalty or of wanting to "See the world" etc.
Given his background and the fact he came to the Broncos, leaving the Storm who developed him, but did so for big money and demanding a 2+2 year deal indicated to me he was all about shopping himself to the highest bidder. That's fine. He's entitled to do that.
Mercenaries. 20 years ago they were the exception. Now they're the norm.
OXY-351
NRL Player
- Oct 1, 2008
- 2,182
- 916
I hear he went to play AFL in Sydney cause he was sick of Brisbanes nightlife.
You know what could have kept him in the NRL though? If Gallop brought in a rule where a Mormons Tithing's could be excluded from the salary cap. I've just added Fraser Anderson, Krisnan Inu, Ben Hannant and Sam Perrett to my NRL Dream Team for when this happens. Those players values are going to go higher than a Folau leap when this new rule comes in.
Actually it would surprise me if Brian Waldron hadn't found someway to write off his 10% Tithings when he was at the Storm. I did see the leader of the Australian Morman Church driving around in a new ski boat just last weekend.
Peronsally though, I think he should have signed with the Melbourne Rebels on a 2 season contract. That way he could have just stood out on the wing on sabatical for the required 2 years. It's not like he would have had much else to do on the wing in a union game.
You know what could have kept him in the NRL though? If Gallop brought in a rule where a Mormons Tithing's could be excluded from the salary cap. I've just added Fraser Anderson, Krisnan Inu, Ben Hannant and Sam Perrett to my NRL Dream Team for when this happens. Those players values are going to go higher than a Folau leap when this new rule comes in.
Actually it would surprise me if Brian Waldron hadn't found someway to write off his 10% Tithings when he was at the Storm. I did see the leader of the Australian Morman Church driving around in a new ski boat just last weekend.
Peronsally though, I think he should have signed with the Melbourne Rebels on a 2 season contract. That way he could have just stood out on the wing on sabatical for the required 2 years. It's not like he would have had much else to do on the wing in a union game.
To be honest, most are kidding themselves if they wouldn't swap jobs for double the salary. I can't blame Izzy one bit, and as Coxy has said he hasn't mislead anyone at all. Good luck to him.
This is however seriously worrying that elite players such as Hunt, Izzy and SBW have left our game in their very early 20s. Those 3 are all once in a generation type players. Absolute superstars who we can't afford to lose.
This is however seriously worrying that elite players such as Hunt, Izzy and SBW have left our game in their very early 20s. Those 3 are all once in a generation type players. Absolute superstars who we can't afford to lose.
- Mar 5, 2008
- 55,212
- 35,811
I don't buy that superstar BS.
Hunt was pretty good. But he wasn't the greatest players we've ever seen, and I personally didn't see him as anything special.
SBW was an over rated player with a decent sidestep at times.
Izzy can catch a ball.
While I'd like them all to be in the game, I don't see them as a massive loss.
Hunt was pretty good. But he wasn't the greatest players we've ever seen, and I personally didn't see him as anything special.
SBW was an over rated player with a decent sidestep at times.
Izzy can catch a ball.
While I'd like them all to be in the game, I don't see them as a massive loss.
Nashy said:
All 3 didn't have the chance to show their full potential, and rugby league didn't offer the financial incentive to stay and prove it here.
To me that's the bigger issue. How can league put in place financial incentives that make leaving the code a harder decision? I understand all the requirements of the salary cap etc but something needs to be considered.
I don't think it's a massive problem yet. For every SBW Folau Hunt there's a Slater Inglis Lockyer Thurston, but if we can keep the vast majority of our talented players in the game then we should do so.
