Jordan Petaia’s mum infiltrated Israel Folau’s church to protect her son

The mother of boom young Wallaby Jordan Petaia has spoken about why she felt the need to infiltrate the church of Israel Folau to protect her son.

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The mother of Wallaby Jordan Petaia claims she was told that she is going to hell by Israel Folau’s father, and said it was “sad” her identity had been exposed days after her son’s Test debut at the World Cup.

Helen Petaia was outed as infiltrating the Folaus’ Truth of Jesus Christ Church by communicating with them under a pseudonym on Facebook before voicing concerns about their preaching to Australian Christian Lobby boss Martyn Iles.

Wallaby Jordan Petaia with his parents. Picture: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B3O6pcAFx7V/

It can now be revealed that after expressing concerns about their extreme views, Pastor Eni Folau told Mrs Petaia she would be going to hell, given she and most Christians believe in the Holy Trinity while the Folaus believe Jesus and God are one and the same.

Mrs Petaia added: “[Folau’s] father Eni told me to my face I am going to hell. I suspect he still holds the same belief about me and most likely Martyn Iles. It seems neither one of us has been baptised correctly and we both believe in the trinity, how ironic.

“So what is the real reason Martyn Iles continues to build the profile of himself and that of the ACL of the back of supporting the devout Christian Izzy?

“There are many Christian leaders who agree with my assessment of the Folau Church, and some are on the record saying Izzy is not a Christian, which raises the question again to Martyn Iles — why are you not admitting to this?

Mrs Petaia claims Eni Folau (pictured) told her she would be going to hell. Picture: Seven News

And with 19-year-old Jordan to start his second match against Georgia on Friday night for the Wallabies, Mrs Petaia said her leaked identity in a report by The Herald Sunwas timed to distract the winger and the Australian team from their World Cup campaign.

“The timing of this article today is opportunistic, hilarious and also sad, given the ACL and the Folaus have known my identity for close to a month,” Petaia told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday.

Australian Christian Lobby managing director Martyn Iles with Israel Folau. Picture: Facebook

The ACL is publicly backing Folau’s $10 million legal case against Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs for unlawful termination due to religious beliefs.

Folau will be a guest speaker at the ACL’s National Conference in Darling Harbour on October 19, the same day as the likely World Cup quarter-final match between Australia and England.

Petaia, concerned that her son could be influenced by Folau and his radical beliefs during Wallabies camps, posted a comment on his church’s Facebook page under the name Josie Benc.

She had created that page years earlier, after deleting her own account following her high-profile legal victory against the Australian Taxation Office and then being bombarded for information by other users.

“The church first made contact with me after I made a comment on the public page,” Petaia said.

“This person was the representative I did not know at the time it was Josiah [Folau] — in fact he goes by David.

Israel Folau will be a guest speaker at the ACL’s National Conference in Darling Harbour on October 19, the same day as the likely World Cup quarter-final match between Australia and England. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“During our interactions I did want to get clear on their beliefs. After sharing this with Christian friends it was arranged via the ACL executive for me to speak to Martyn Iles.

Petaia began making inquiries into Folau’s church after becoming concerned at what Jordan might be exposed to during Wallaby camps.

“I have no doubt many Christian parents would be concerned if their child was to become entangled in the false teachings and religious practices that Israel Folau endorses,” she said.

“He had a free reign to run bible studies both at the Waratahs and the Wallabies so what exactly was he teaching?”

Iles and the Folau camp did not respond to requests for comment.

Originally published as Jordan Petaia’s mum infiltrated Israel Folau’s church to protect her son