Israel Folau to be paid $250,000 to play for Southport Tigers
Israel Folau is set to pocket a small fortune to play against Gold Coast amateurs, and any bid to block him will be met with swift legal action claims Clive Palmer.
NRL
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Billionaire Clive Palmer will pay Israel Folau $250,000 to play park footy and has threatened to sue anyone that tries to block the cross-code superstar’s NRL comeback bid.
Folau announced in Brisbane on Friday that he has signed to play for the Palmer-backed Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast amateur competition, the first step in a potential return to the NRL.
The Queensland Rugby League will have to approve Folau’s registration before he can make his club debut on Saturday week but Palmer, a renowned litigation lover, has vowed to launch legal action if the application is rejected.
Folau, 32, was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 following a series of religion-related social media posts condemning same-sex relationships.
He successfully sued RA and received a multimillion-dollar payout before continuing his career with French club Catalans in the Super League.
Folau walked out on Catalans and returned to Australia late last year, with the hope of securing an NRL contract.
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But a possible partnership with St George Illawarra died following a huge social backlash and the NRL has refused to outline its stance on Folau’s potential return to the competition.
Folau said he had no regrets about his actions in the past and refused to guarantee he would not continue to publicly share his controversial beliefs.
“I have no regrets at all in life. Everything happens for a reason, it’s there for a purpose,” he said.
“The journey I’ve been on to this day…I’m so thankful for what I’ve gone through. It’s brought me closer to god.
“I’ll tell you what I stand for. As a Christian I stand by the bible and what it says. Every word written in that book is what I stand by.
“I didn’t write the bible – it’s God’s written word and I believe it. I just want to give thanks to my lord and saviour Jesus Christ for this opportunity.
“I’m excited to be here and link up with Clive. The opportunity he has given me and my family is something I’m really grateful for.
“I’m very confident things will move in the way we want them to. I don’t see any problem with that from a legal point of view.”
A mining magnate and former politician who enjoys the limelight, Palmer was less diplomatic in declaring his support for Folau’s comeback.
“Israel is being registered in this competition – I’ll be very surprised if he’s not registered,” said Palmer, a Southport club patron.
“I’ll support him with all the funds and skills I possess to make sure he is treated fairly.
“My commitment is rock solid. I will pledge every cent, dollar and waking moment of my time to make sure he takes the field again.
“If people want to challenge him legally and say things that aren’t right – watch out.
“There is no legal basis at all that Israel Folau can’t play. I’m sure the rugby union paid a hefty settlement for what they did to him. He is a recipient of large damages – you normally pay large damages when you’ve done something wrong.
“It’s not a question of money, it’s about playing the game fairly and showing we have freedom of speech in Australia. People are allowed to have their views. We need to protect those values.”
Folau will play alongside brothers John and Eni for the first time at the Tigers and said he has been buoyed by the support of the public and high-profile athletes that had backed his return to the game – like fellow cross-code star Karmichael Hunt and Broncos captain Alex Glenn.
He stopped short of declaring he wanted to play in the NRL again, but that appears to be the end goal.
“That’s not in my hands. I’m excited to get back on the field and play football. Wherever that takes me, it’s out of my hands,” he said.
“I didn’t get the opportunity to meet with (the NRL) but I’m here now with this opportunity Clive’s given me.
“It gives me a lot of confidence and encouragement to have top-tier players who think I am still able to come back and play the game.
“There’s been great support from the public. I’ve come across many people out there that have shown support.
“In the last few years you’ve had the minority been loud. There’s been so many supporters I’m really thankful for.
“I’m thankful for the people like Clive and the many other Australians who are supportive of me.”
V’LANDYS WON’T SHUT DOOR ON FOLAU
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has left the door ajar for Israel Folau’s comeback to rugby league, saying he will consider any application for the controversial code-hopper to return to the NRL.
The Broncos and Dragons discussed signing Folau in recent months and V’landys says the ARL Commission are keeping an open mind on the former Origin star pending his registration by the Queensland Rugby League.
“Israel will be given due process as any other player would,” V’landys said.
“Until an application is before us I can’t make a pre-judgment either way.
“At the moment, it’s all hypothetical because there is no application before us. A club has to lodge a contract and a player registration and no club has done that to date.
“That’s the way we do it for every other player and Israel will be treated exactly the same way.”
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