Why Israel Folau is not worth the risk to NRL

While new chairman Peter V’landys has been outspoken about why he thinks Folau should not be allowed back in rugby league, it is understood some other officials might be wavering.

The Broncos say Israel Folau won’t be coming back to Brisbane to play NRL.

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Rubbing out Israel Folau is not denying the right to freedom of speech, it’s about doing right by your footy club and fans.

That is the view of one of rugby league’s most respected analysts Ben Ikin, after the Brisbane Broncos slammed the door shut on the cross-code star’s return to the NRL.

Folau is considering a return to the NRL with Brisbane on Sunday forced to put out a club statement denying they had expressed any interest in the one-time Bronco.

But it is understood that at least one other club has made an informal inquiry in recent days to try and ascertain where the NRL stood on Folau.

Folau is also said to have been training up to three hours a day in a bid to reignite his rugby league career.

Despite the Broncos’ denials, there is no question the NRL’s stance against Folau has been spoken about at top levels within the Australian Rugby League Commission in the last week.

The Broncos say Israel Folau won’t be coming back to Brisbane to play NRL.

While new chairman Peter V’landys has been outspoken about why he thinks Folau should not be allowed back in the game, it is understood some other officials might be wavering amid the public and high level support Folau has received.

There is also understandable concern what the legal implications might be in the wake of Folau copping a multi-million payout from Rugby Australia.

Ikin was adamant his views were not personally motivated but based on business and rugby league logic.

“If I am sitting on the board of the Broncos providing oversight and accountability to that business the two big drivers for me are commercial performance and on-field performance,” Ikin explained.

“From a commercial stand point his views, whatever you think of them, have the potential to alienate sponsors and fans, which will impact commercial performance.

“Now that makes it risky. As a director of a publicly-listed organisation you have a fiduciary duty to your shareholders.

“And on the football side, I mean, he is a 30-year-old outside back who has been out of the game for several years. Second to that the Broncos don’t need an outside back, especially one that is at the back end of his career.

Israel Folau is said to be keen to reignite his career in the NRL. Picture: AA{

“So he gets a cross from me on both fronts if I am sitting on the board.

“Put the subjective views aside about where you stand on all those issues around inclusivity, religious freedoms, etc. I mean, those are the things I am focusing on if I am the CEO or on the board at the Broncos.”

V’landys certainly didn’t hide his thoughts when asked about his views on Folau at his initial media conference.

“When I was a kid and kids used to get bashed up because they were different, I used to go and defend them,” V’landys said.

“I have no tolerance for people that put other people’s lives (at risk) or (commit) violence.

“With due respect to Israel, what he says, young kids listen to. He is a role model. They act on it. And when you’re a kid at school and you get bashed up because you’re different, I don’t think that’s a good thing.”

Only a fortnight ago Folau claimed the bushfires that have laid siege to NSW were a “little taste of God’s judgment”.

Folau spent two years at the Broncos and two years at the Melbourne Storm before switching codes and joining Greater Western Sydney in the AFL.

Originally published as Why Israel Folau is not worth the risk to NRL