Israel Folau wants out... I'll show him the door.

[Bucking Beads]

If that is true FB i wonder how the team will react to him during the Manly game...

Well if Folau see's alot less ball you know something is doing...

 

[Flutterby]

Once again Peter Holmes-A-Court makes a good point:

Rugby League was forged when players left one code (Rugby Union) to join another expanding code (Rugby League), so it would be a bit off if people started thinking code-switching was a bad thing.

Only thing he left out of this sentence was that they left union to play league FOR MONEY!

not really quite sure how the article ended up where it did - but there you go.

http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how ... ut-israel/

 

[Raw Boned Youngster]

When is Izzy taking up the European Rugby bait prior to his AFL career to follow in the footsteps of his idol and mentor Karmichael?

Let's face it, both Karmichael and Israel will last a year in AFL before they are released.

 

[Foordy]

When is Izzy taking up the European Rugby bait prior to his AFL career to follow in the footsteps of his idol and mentor Karmichael?

Let's face it, both Karmichael and Israel will last a year in AFL before they are released.

from what i have read he isn't... they have him playing the reserve grade comp next year, which if the GC were smart the would have done with Hunt

 

[Donny]

I watched an interview with Darren Lockyer on the morning show. TBH i though rite then and there that Folau wasnt leaving. The way locky smiled when questioned about Folau leaving and the way he said he was confident he would stay honselty made me think that Folau must have told Locky he isnt leaving.

If Lockyer has contacted the QLD selectors and demanded he doesnt get picked then i think it proves that Folau proberly did make some type of promises or guarantee to some of the Broncos about staying. Lockyer is definately not the type of bloke to go around demanding somebody doesnt get picked for Origin. He obviously feels very storng about the whole situation.

If the team feels let down by Folau then do they really want him playing in the team? I'm starting to think that if he has told some of the more senior Broncos that he was going to stay that the Broncos might be worse off if he does continue to play the rest of the season.

Dont get me wrong i think Folau would still give 100% for the team, but when it comes time for the players to give 100% for Folau will it happen? I just hope it doesnt re-rail our slight improvement in form!!! If Lockyer feels betrayed by Folau enough not to want him in the QLD jersey, then how much doesnt he want Folau in a Bronco jersey. We are talking about a true Legend of Rugby League who has poured his heart and soul into the Broncos for so many years now, who proberly got offers far greater then anything the Broncos could offer but still stayed. In my book's this is the BIG differnce between Lockyer and Folau. Money cant buy Lockyers loyalty but we all know now that it definately can buy Folau's.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Mate I think your spot on I reckon Izzy told Lockyer he was staying. That would make sense to me the way Lockyer and petro have come out saying no don't let him play Origin.

 

[Je$ter]

As an athlete I have no doubt the challenge would have enticed Folau. But no doubt the cash is number 1 reason he left by light years.

 

[Donny]

I would love to be a fly on the wall at the next Bronco team meeting [icon_wink [icon_wink

 

[POSSE1]

Young Israel may have also been under pressure from his Mormon Church to move to AFL... Being a mormon you are "required by Commandment of God to pay 10% of all their GROSS income to the LDS church. This includes all income - including: employment, unemployment insurance, student loans, pell grant checks, Social Security income, Medicare, foodstamps, trust funds and any other form of income, even including finding money on the ground."... So 10% of what the Broncos offered would be a lot less to his Church, than 10% of what the AFL has agreed to pay.... And there is all his sponsorship deals that would add to what the Church gets... It may be a bit of a conspiracy theory, but you never know.

After reading what Darren Lockyer said today about the QLD side, I am not sure there will be a good feeling in the team with Israel there. I think if Israel does not commit fully to the task of winning games for us for the rest of the season, then Bruno should just tell him to leave, and we can take back pro-rata some of his money for the games he misses for the rest of the season, and distribute it amongst the players who want to be at the Broncos and are the talent we want to keep...

I hate AFL but to think that he will get paid more than the best AFL player (whoever that is) is absolutely absurd.. But AFL is an absurd and boring game.. Almost as boring as soccer.

 

[Kimlo]

I guess the teams performance against Manly will show what the feeling is like behind doors.

 

[Donny]

I guess the teams performance against Manly will show what the feeling is like behind doors.

I wont blame the team 1 iota if Folau doesnt touch the ball all game. I personally think if he DID tell the senior players he was going to stay then the team would have my full support if they had a meeting to decide if Folau should play or not. If they dont want him to play drop him to Q CUP

 

[Kimlo]

Dropping him to Q Cup would be a huge move but if that is what the senior players decide I would 100% support it, actually if he's not going to play first grade he can be on his way.... no point hanging around training with all the negativity that would bring.

If we do that we really should get Gasnier just for the rest of this season IMO, then the Draqueens can take him next year. We are apparently under the salary cap this year so why not use it.

All that being said, it is a HUGE if, I can't see it happening or getting to that stage but weirder things have happened and besides he is a very good player who we are paying and not having him in the squad would definitely weaken the team.

 

[Scorchie]

Nobody could possibly believe he did it for the challenge primarily.

Aw I dunno, maybe he did it for the challenge of how exactly to spend $6mil over 4 years whilst conjuring up new and exciting schemes on tax avoidance.

 

[Kimlo]

Nobody could possibly believe he did it for the challenge primarily.

Aw I dunno, maybe he did it for the challenge of how exactly to spend $6mil over 4 years whilst conjuring up new and exciting schemes on tax avoidance.

[icon_lol1. [icon_lol1. [icon_lol1. [eusa_clap.gi

 

[Porthoz]

We probably should wait and see, because all the reporting has been contradictory.
I agree Lockyer didn't seem happy, but it may be related to his stance regarding Origin, which has pretty much split opinions in two, but may have no problem with Izzy at the Broncos.

Then I see Corey Parker supporting Folau and the fact that Izzy apparently phoned every single one of his coleagues, and their apparent approval.
Sauce:
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 5874696933

I don't know what to think, not even sure anymore that I want Folau to be picked for Origin, and take the focus away from an historical 5 peat or possibly Locky's last home Origin. I'll just wait and see what happens at Brookie on Sunday. [icon_shru

 

[Huge]

FFS.....if the focus is on Folau at Origin time then it's the media and the dickheads responding to the questions about Izzy who are to blame. If we're not talking about it then where's the issue ?? Origin is about many issues, Folaus future is just one thing. What's to talk about anyway ?? It will be old news by the time Origin 2s on and then , if selected, Folaus future will be mentioned only in passing.

The argument suggesting it will divert focus is piss poor, don't fall for it. The people suggesting that are the very ones who'd bring it up all the time.

How dumb is it to weaken the Origin side so as to punish a player because he's retiring from rugby league. Next year is next year. I remember Scott Draper retiring from tennis to go and play golf for a living , this is no different. For once Darren Lockyer, in my opinion, should have kept his own opinion to himself.

Imagine Lockyer retiring at the end of the year and getting a new role as an ambassador for snooker, spruiking the merits of the game on a worldwide stage and highlighting Australias World Champion Robertson. Not a soul would suggest he be dropped from Origin. I know that's hypothetical but the point is there. An idiotic decision to drop Folau if that's what happens. Irrational, emotional, juvenile, pedantic and reactionary.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Izzy has done something wrong to get this reaction from Lockyer IMO. There is a bigger picture here not just winning a game of Origin.

 

[Black Philip]

FFS.....if the focus is on Folau at Origin time then it's the media and the dickheads responding to the questions about Izzy who are to blame. If we're not talking about it then where's the issue ?? Origin is about many issues, Folaus future is just one thing. What's to talk about anyway ?? It will be old news by the time Origin 2s on and then , if selected, Folaus future will be mentioned only in passing.

The argument suggesting it will divert focus is piss poor, don't fall for it. The people suggesting that are the very ones who'd bring it up all the time.

How dumb is it to weaken the Origin side so as to punish a player because he's retiring from rugby league. Next year is next year. I remember Scott Draper retiring from tennis to go and play golf for a living , this is no different. For once Darren Lockyer, in my opinion, should have kept his own opinion to himself.

Imagine Lockyer retiring at the end of the year and getting a new role as an ambassador for snooker, spruiking the merits of the game on a worldwide stage and highlighting Australias World Champion Robertson. Not a soul would suggest he be dropped from Origin. I know that's hypothetical but the point is there. An idiotic decision to drop Folau if that's what happens. Irrational, emotional, juvenile, pedantic and reactionary.

You really like snooker don't ya? [icon_lol1.