Israel Folau missed planned training session with Sydney Roosters in Barcelona
Israel Folau missed a training session with the Sydney Roosters because he was left feeling like he’d “been run over by a bus” in his rugby league return. SEE THE SESSION IN PHOTOS.
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Footy superstar Israel Folau stood up NRL premiers the Sydney Roosters in Barcelona yesterday because he was too sore from his comeback game after 10 tumultuous months on the sidelines.
“He feels like he’s been run over by a bus,” said Catalans coach Steve McNamara.
The Catalan Dragons had a lively contact session with the Roosters at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium to help the back-to-back premiers prepare for the World Club Challenge against St Helens in Manchester on Sunday morning (AEDT).
Folau’s much-hyped appearance did not eventuate.
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McNamara told the Daily Telegraph that his highly controversial signing was still recovering from bumps and bruises from his debut in the Super League last weekend.
“We have a two-and-a-half hour bus trip to and from Barcelona so he stayed at home for physio rather than sit on the bus for all that time,” McNamara said.
Former NRL star James Maloney led Catalans through a tough and physical session with his old club before McNamara took questions about his decision to sign the Wallaby star which has caused a major storm among rival Super League clubs.
McNamara insists Folau deserved another shot in rugby league, even in the NRL.
“He should be given an opportunity and we’ve given that opportunity,” McNamara said. “We completely stand by the decision, as a club, and as an individual I stand by that as well.
“Having spoken to him, and understanding him more, I think everyone gets the headline but not the person. Get him on the field is the plan and we will learn more about the person as we move on.
“He has assured us it won’t be repeated again and that’s good enough for me. You can only take someone as you find them, and there’s been a lot of work done before we signed him. He spoke to the group, and he’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do and more.”
Maloney backed his coach and said he was unaware of all the outside outrage from those who wanted him kicked out of the sport entirely, not just in Australia.
“Apparently there’s a bit of a buzz and some blow-ups but you get sheltered from it here in France,” Maloney said, “You don’t watch the news because you can’t understand the language and you don’t pick up a paper because you can’t read it.
“So you go about your own business without worrying about it too much. He spoke to all the players and he’s fitted in really well. He’s a phenomenal talent.”
McNamara used to work as an assistant to coach Trent Robinson at the Roosters.
He liked what he saw of Kyle Flanagan’s organising skill alongside Luke Keary.
“He’s a good player,” McNamara said, “It will be interesting for the Roosters in general. They’ve won a grand final with Jimmy in 2013, then Cronk going back to back.
“It’s interesting now to see who steps up, whether that’s Kyle, Lachlan Lam, Luke Keary … everything else around it is so strong and solid, and the Roosters defend so well, they’re always a chance of winning close games.”
The Roosters also got the chance to trial their new left-side combination with Angus Crichton shifting from the right edge to the left centre position vacated by Latrell Mitchell as he struck up a partnership with winger Daniel Tupou.
Before their Catalans hit out, the players and coach Trent Robinson were among a crowd of 85,000 to watch superstar Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona beat Getafe 2-1 last Saturday night.
Messi’s salary is worth around $900,000 a week – about the same as Roosters superstar and the NRL’s No.1 player James Tedesco will earn over an entire season.
While the Roosters are the benchmark club in the NRL, soccer here is a whole new level.
The Roosters got to train on Monday on Barcelona’s famous Olympic Stadium where the running track is still in place from Linford Christie’s 100m gold medal victory in 1992.
Next door is the swimming pool where Kieran Perkins won the 1500m final.
The Roosters are the first rugby league team to be allowed onto the Olympic venue.
Through the connections of former Wallaby coach Michael Cheika, who is now on the Roosters’ coaching staff, the players, coaches and chairman Nick Politis were also taken on a tour of FC Barcelona’s training and junior development centre.
There are 11 full-size soccer fields inside the compound.
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Plus a modern five-story boarding house where 60 of the best young players in Europe live, eat and train with a dream of playing for the great club.
It was where Messi started out as a 13-year-old after leaving his native Argentina and grew to become the world’s greatest player.
The Roosters have been blown away by the experience.
“We’re here to win a big game of footy on the weekend,” said co-captain Jake Friend. “But to experience what we have over the last couple of days has been amazing for all the boys.”
Originally published as Israel Folau missed planned training session with Sydney Roosters in Barcelona