Israel Folau’s new coach: ‘Perfect environment for redemption’
Former NRL star Greg Bird who is now one of Israel Folau’s new coaches, has revealed why he thinks the fallen Rugby Australia star is in the “perfect environment for “rehabilitation”.
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New recruit Israel Folau has the perfect chance to resurrect his career at the Catalans Dragons in France away from the spotlight, one of his new coaches Greg Bird says.
The New South Wales State of Origin star who finished his career at the Dragons has backed Folau, 30, to answer his critics on the field in the UK Super League.
Now in a coaching role at the French team, Bird said Folau would put the controversy of the past year behind him.
There has been a backlash to Folau’s recruitment among the English clubs following his sacking in Australia over his social media posts and the subsequent legal battle.
“It’s a new life in a new country with new languages and cultures. There’s no better place to start again,” Bird said.
“The beauty of playing here in France is that you’re out of the bubble in Australia or the UK. It’s the perfect environment for redemption and rehabilitation.
“When you get time off you meet people who may not know about the past and it’s refreshing.
“I don’t think people in this area care too much about social media and stories in the press so it makes it a little easier for players who’ve had troubles.”
Rival Super League clubs have organised gay pride events at Catalans away games in reaction to Folau’s signing.
Club bosses also changed the rules on controversial recruitments at a meeting last week.
Bird, 35, said now was the time to move on.
“If you’ve done wrong, you pay the price but you cannot be punished every day for the rest of your life,” he said.
“I can’t speak for Israel and how he’s going to approach things but I’m sure he’ll do the same as I did, just get yourself out there on the football pitch and make whatever’s happened in the past exactly that, make it history.
“When you start playing football every week, pretty soon no-one cares what happened nine months ago.”
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Bird, who had two stints playing at the Catalans before retiring last year, also dealt with negative headlines in Australia.
He said he was looking forward to seeing Folau take the field at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan, in the south of France, about two hour’s drive east of Barcelona.
“I’m sure he’ll take the same attitude as I did and put the dramas in the past. Once we get a 15,000 crowd in here at the Brutus and we get a few wins under our belt people will soon forget the backstory,” he said.
“This is the right place for Israel right now.”
Bird played with the Cronulla Sharks and Gold Coast Titans in 235 NRL games, before ending his career at Catalans.
He has crossed paths with Folau before when they both played for Australia.
“If you watch some of the highlight reels of him playing it’s hard to believe,” Bird said. “Unfortunately, I’m on one of them. I was stood next to Anthony Quinn in a State of Origin game when Israel jumped right over the top of him. I’m hoping he brings those abilities here for Catalans.”
Catalans were scheduled to play Castleford Tigers early on Sunday morning Australian time (February 16) (Saturday 6pm local time).
Originally published as Israel Folau’s new coach: ‘Perfect environment for redemption’