Jim Tucker: No winners in battle between rugby and Folau

Queensland Reds skipper Samu Kerevi was spot on when he said he saw “no winners” from Friday’s Folau outcome – and it’s going to get messier, writes Jim Tucker.

A big chunk of the $3 million-plus that Israel Folau has surrendered for not following the workplace rules most of us find fair will now be wasted on legal fees defending his likely court challenge.

Queensland Reds skipper Samu Kerevi was spot on when he said he saw “no winners” from Friday’s Folau outcome.

Fellow players, fans and administrators would all agree but it has happened and the excruciating legal dance will be a ball-and-chain on the code for months or even into next year.

Israel Folau has had his contract torn up.

All the while, Folau’s former teammates will be striving to come together as a Wallabies squad with a common goal to go as far as possible at the World Cup starting in September.

The Folau saga will be a storm beyond the sidelines, sometimes buffeting the squad and sometimes more distant.

It’s a destabilising grenade that the Wallabies never needed.

It was selfishly thrown by Folau when so much of this fallout since his social media post vilifying homosexuals was foreseeable.

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Former Wallabies coach-turned-media commentator Alan Jones has raged about Rugby Australia’s “shameful” gag on freedom of speech and religion and even dragged the Anzacs into it to defend Folau.

He’s off the mark.

This is about a contract issue with an employee and a breach of the terms it was signed under.

The Bible has more than the one page which Folau has now quoted twice and made the vulnerable homosexual community uncomfortable.

Folau has every right to express his religious views and can. If they are public and so at odds with the values of Rugby Australia, he must also accept they come with consequences.

Raelene Castle speaks to the media. Picture: Don Arnold/Getty Images

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle handled herself well when grilled on the Folau verdict on Friday.

She was clear, explained RA’s viewpoint without hesitation and agreed it was a shame to be in this situation.

“I’m 100 per cent confident (there will be no rift in the Wallabies squad),” Castle said.

“The players understand that everyone has a right to their own views and religious beliefs and as long as they are expressed in a respectful way we’ll continue to support them.

“We have many players quote from the Bible and we are completely supportive.”

If a cleaner had twice worn a T-shirt with Folau’s “Hell Awaits You” list on the front, he would have been terminated too as an employee of Rugby Australia.

The size of Folau’s contract is irrelevant.

Folau runs onto nib Stadium under a rainbow. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

When Folau’s new four-year, $4 million deal to the end of 2022 was revealed late last year all the forecasts were of smashing the 100-Test barrier, try records and a second World Cup.

He’ll forever be stalled on 73 Tests, 37 tries and a 2015 World Cup when not as his best with an ankle injury.

“To see it unfold like this is really sad ... I feel no one really wins out of this,” Kerevi said.

“He’s a really close friend and I’ve grown to really know Izzy since I came into the Wallabies fold and he was a guy who took me under his wing (in 2016).

“We’ll deal with it (as players) and get on with the footy which is what we are here to do.”

Kerevi was speaking before Saturday night’s Queensland-NSW clash at Suncorp Stadium which, since 2013, has always had an Izzy theme one way or another.

Often times, he’s dominated the occasion with his six interstate tries.

No longer.

Reds and Waratahs players pray together in 2014. Picture: Darren England.

It’s sad, incredibly sad.

Folau had been a wonderful ambassador for rugby and always did extra media conferences for Rugby Australia just to spike ticket sales in slow Test weeks.

He was forever generous with his time and manner.

After Saturday night’s Queensland-NSW game at Suncorp Stadium, there’ll be a prayer circle of largely Pasifika players on bended knee and arms latched onto each other in unity.

Don’t misguidedly fall into the notion that it’s a solidarity movement all about Folau as some commentators did when one was formed after the Reds-Rebels game in Melbourne last week.

“It wasn’t about Israel. Win, lose or draw, all the Christian boys give thanks for the talents we have in a moment of gratitude,” Kerevi said.

It would be naive to think there weren’t a few moments devoted to Folau just as there will be on Saturday night.