The demands, Jack de Belin factor, sponsorship threat: Why Dragons walked away from Israel Folau

The Dragons’ public pursuit of Israel Folau lasted barely 36 hours. Find out what the NRL wanted from the club, how the Jack de Belin factor left them spooked and the sponsorship threat.

Israel Folau playing with Catalan Dragons in March last year.

The NRL’s demands, a repeat of the Jack de Belin fiasco and fears the club’s major sponsor could walk away led to St George Illawarra pulling out of negotiations with Israel Folau.

The club’s major sponsor, St George Bank, expressed severe reservations about the Dragons’ pursuit of Folau, while fans’ opinions were also divided.

Despite publicly distancing themselves from the decision making, it is understood the bank’s $1 million sponsorship deal was in jeopardy.

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Folau was deemed too risky by the Dragons.

The Dragons and the bank have a four decade association and it is one of the longest front of jersey sponsorships in Australian sport. The deal is in the final season and the partnership may have been soured by developments in recent days.

Aside from potential sponsor and fan backlash, it was the NRL’s list of demands and no certainty surrounding Folau’s acceptance into the game which was the final straw for the Dragons.

The NRL put together a long list of requests the Dragons needed to submit if they were to lodge a contract for the dual-international before the governing body would even consider allowing Folau back into the game.

It is understood among the information the Dragons needed to supply included Folau’s employment history, his contract and human resources file at Catalans Dragons and information surrounding his court case with Rugby Australia.

Fearing the situation could drag on for weeks into the season and provide another distraction, with no guarantee of Folau being free to return, saw a dramatic shift in the Dragons pursuit after a hastily convened board meeting on Wednesday.

Dragons boss Ryan Webb said once the club had time to process the requests they opted against pursing Folau on a $1 million two-year deal.

“When the board got to together to discuss all the information at hand, including the requirements and the different feedback and with everything else to consider, that’s when the board didn’t want to take it any further,” Webb said.

“It’s our job in recruitment to look at talent and look if you can bring it into the side, from that point of view you have to explore every opportunity.

Folau was offered a two-year $1m deal before the Dragons pulled the plug.

“Once it was made public, it seemed like a lot of requirements and information came very quickly.

“We had to process the information as soon as it came to hand.”

The club did not want a repeat of the de Belin situation where a star player continued to train with the club having no clear sign of if, and when, they could take the field. De Belin has been unable to play with St George Illawarra since 2018 as he faces rape charges but has been a constant around the squad.

The Dragons were also unsure if they could and would be legally able to source all the relevant information – particularly in a timely manner – and calculated Folau would not be available to round five in the best case situation. There were concerns about his match fitness too given his long stint out of the game.

Privately, some at the club wanted to take up the fight with the NRL, but in the end they deemed it too large of a risk.

Sensational backflip puts Folau NRL return on hold

St George Illawarra have performed a sensational backflip pulling out of pursuing Israel Folau just 24 hours after publicly flagging their intention to sign the dual international.

Despite the Dragons shutting the door on the 31-year-old, the saga for the NRL could continue as it is understood Folau is keen to explore other opportunities in the NRL.

He was offered to Queensland clubs before Christmas but they quickly shut down the prospect of signing him.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said on Wednesday night that “each club is autonomous” and he would not deliver an edict stopping them from putting a cause forward for Folau to return to the club.

Israel Folau wants return to the NRL, but it won’t be at the Dragons. Picture: Getty Images

“If a club wants to make an application then that person will be treated like any other player,” V’landys said. “The Dragons did not make an application.”

V’landys indicated he was happy to meet with Folau but only once a contract was lodged.

“I will meet nobody or see nobody until there is an application,” V’landys said.

“I am not going to be party to fishing expeditions. When they make an application, when they try and register a contract, we will go through that like we do every other person.”

The Dragons informed the NRL of the club’s decision on Wednesday night after the club’s board met and opted against pursing Folau.

It is understood the Dragons were reluctant to again put the club in the spotlight given where it has been in recent seasons and the lengthy process to get Folau to the club was deemed too risky. There was also some sponsor and fan backlash after the club made it known they wanted to sign the former Wallaby.

Peter V’landys has stood his ground on previous comments about Folau’s religious beliefs.

The indications from head office also pointed to a reluctance to allow the 31-year-old back into the game. The Dragons board had given the all clear for the club to pursue Folau and discussions were advanced with the parties agreeing on a two year deal worth $1 million and included strict social media rules.

The Dragons were waiting guidance from the NRL who indicated they were going to give Folau every chance to prove he was fit to return. Sensing a drawn out process the Dragons abruptly ditched the plan.

“While the Dragons did enquire about signing Folau, the club can confirm that such discussions have now ceased,” the Dragons said in a statement.

Folau is still contracted to Super League club Catalans Dragons but is seeking a release on compassionate grounds. He returned to Australia because of a family illness.

The ARLC commission will still meet on Thursday where Folau’s potential return to the game is still expected to be a talking point although it is not an agenda item.

“As the chairman of the meeting who determines the agenda I am not going to raise it,” V’landys said. “The meeting was always scheduled to consider the financial accounts of the organisation. So it is not a normal commission meeting.

Originally published as The demands, Jack de Belin factor, sponsorship threat: Why Dragons walked away from Israel Folau