Israel Folau NRL: Dragons seek permission to bring star back to rugby league

St George Illawarra are ‘comfortable’ Israel Folau won’t share the same homophobic and offensive views which saw him dumped from Australian rugby if he came back to the NRL.

The Dragons want to bring Israel Folau back to the NRL.

St George Illawarra will insert strict social media clauses in Israel Folau’s contract but the controversial dual international still faces an uphill battle to have his contract registered by the NRL.

On the same day the Dragons lost popular skipper Cameron McInnes to cross-town rivals Cronulla, the club publicly declared their interest in securing the most divisive figure in Australian sport.

Folau has met St George Illawarra chief executive Ryan Webb, head of football Ben Haran and coach Anthony Griffin on at least three Zoom calls from his Brisbane home in recent weeks.

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While the Dragons are yet to formally ask for the NRL to register Folau’s contract, discussions between the club and the outside back have progressed to the stage where Folau will agree to guidelines regarding his public comments during the course of his two-year-deal.

The Dragons are hoping to squeeze Folau onto their roster on $400,000 for 2021 and $600,000 for 2022.

Webb said the club was “comfortable” that Folau would not share the same homophobic and offensive views which saw him dumped from Australian rugby.

Folau posted an image that read hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters”.

“If the NRL agreed to the contract we would have precautions in place to make sure we mitigate risk,” Webb said.

“Every conversation we’ve ever had with him indicate we don’t think the same controversies would arise.

“We are genuinely interested in having him join the club, We’ve spoken to key stakeholders internally and now we will ask the NRL if they will consider registering his contract.”

Israel Folau has not played in the NRL since 2010.

The Dragons first had informal discussions with the NRL three weeks ago when Webb reached out to NRL boss Andrew Abdo. The NRL have indicated they will not make a decision either way until the Dragons officially lodge paperwork to facilitate Folau’s return to the NRL for the first time since 2010.

The NRL will allow due process to Folau but it is understood there is little appetite to have him back in the game. It would fly in the face of public comments the game’s two most recent bosses Peter V’landys and Peter Beattie have said. The pair will meet with the rest of the commission on Thursday.

However, public sentiment appears to have shifted towards Folau, with 72 per cent of more than 3000 voters in a Telegraph readers poll on Tuesday approving of his return to the NRL.

“We just have to be adults about it, move on and give this guy the 100 per cent respect he deserves as a rugby league player, despite what his views are off the field,” Dragons super fan George Youssif said.

“If that transition was to happen, I’m probably one of many Dragons fans (that will be) happy to see that happen, I don’t mind Izzy coming in … he’s a brilliant athlete.”

Others disagreed, with Wollongong City Council Deputy Mayor Tania Brown declaring “time for me to find a new team” if Folau joins the club.

Abdo said, “at the moment there’s nothing before the NRL or the ARLC to consider.”

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo says Israel Folau would be assessed the same as any other player.

“If there’s a formal application made, there’s a registration process and that due process will be followed and considered.”

“He would be assessed the same as every other player and be given due process around applying for registration if he is offered a playing contract by the Dragons.

“If the Dragons want to do the deal, his application will have to come up and we would do an assessment of it.”

Folau is still contract to French club Catalans who resurrected his career last year. Catalans have given Folau compassionate leave to stay in Australia as the family deal with a personal situation and do not expect him to return.

Catalans have yet to be approached by St George Illawarra or Folau for a release but would need compensation to free him from the final year of his deal.

Folau is being guided by Wayne Beavis, who manages Griffin.

Griffin was an assistant coach at the Brisbane Broncos in 2010 when Folau played his last season in the NRL before switching to AFL.

Anthony Griffin was assistant coach at the Broncos when Folau last played in the NRL.

Long-term St George Illawarra major sponsor St George Bank said they “play no role in the selection of players and we don’t comment on individuals”.

“As a long-term sponsor of both the men and women’s team and a bank which has operated in the same areas and communities as the team’s fans, we understand the passion people have for the team and the positive role that the team can play in the community,” a bank spokeswoman said.

“As a major employer with a large customer base, St George Bank upholds an inclusive environment that does not discriminate on the basis of gender, ethnicity or sexuality.

“These values align with the NRL’s own commitment to respecting and celebrating diversity.”

Pride in Sport co-founder Andrew Purchas added; “If the St George Illawarra Dragons go down this path, there is an expectation there will be a zero-tolerance policy on harassment and discrimination against LGBTQ people.

“Further, if Folau’s appointment as a player eventuates, he must abide by NRL’s policies on diversity and inclusion and we encourage the Dragons to have in place strategies that will ensure best practice deliverables around LGBTQ inclusion policy, education, visibility, and cultural safety.”

Originally published as Israel Folau NRL: Dragons seek permission to bring star back to rugby league