Sport Confidential: Israel Folau to earn $1.8 million in move to Japan
Cate Campbell got the nod to carry the flag in Tokyo but family members of one athlete are adamant their charge has been dudded of a career-defining honour. It’s Sport Confidential.
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Sacked Wallabies star Israel Folau had almost two million reasons to chase another sporting adventure in Japanese rugby.
Folau will pocket $1.8 million after signing a two-year deal with NTT Communications to play in the Japanese Top League.
That’s at least $900,000 a season, dwarfing the estimated $200,000 he stood to earn during his return to rugby league with Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast competition.
One party that is breathing a sigh of relief is the Queensland Rugby League, which faced legal action from Folau’s Southport billionaire backer Clive Palmer amid fears ‘Izzy’ would not be cleared to play for the Tigers.
The QRL was privately filthy at being handed a political hot potato and will be cheering when Folau flies to the Land of the Rising Sun to launch his Japanese rugby career in September.
It is understood an Australian-based sports agent played a key role in broking the deal between Folau and NTT Communications.
The talk has bubbled away secretly for three months with his wife, former New Zealand netball star Maria Folau, a key figure in negotiations.
Folau told close associates he was genuinely interested in a return to the NRL. That was his preferred option, but when the Dragons and Broncos went cold on potential deals, fearing a sponsor backlash over his homophobic comments, Folau’s move to Japan gathered steam.
While Japanese rugby clubs are considered to be more tolerant of an individual‘s views, at least two Top League outfits pulled out of the race for Folau’s signature.
Pangai Jnr’s Broncos career all but over
Tevita Pangai Jnr may not be seen in Broncos colours again with the controversial forward tipped to broker a release with Brisbane bosses in the next two weeks.
Pangai Jnr’s management is closing in on a new deal and believes the Tongan Test star will come to a settlement with the Broncos before the August 1 transfer deadline.
Pangai Jnr is currently serving a three-match suspension and will be eligible for selection for Brisbane’s round 20 clash against the Cowboys in the Queensland derby at Suncorp Stadium on Friday, July 30.
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But by then, Pangai Jnr is expected to be finished as a Broncos.
Despite Kevin Walters recent suggestions that Pangai Jnr would remain at Red Hill, Broncos bosses will not stand in the way of a release if his manager can come back to Brisbane with an acceptable transfer option.
That is close to happening, with the Dragons and Bulldogs shaping as the major contenders for his signature after Tigers coach Michael Maguire has gone cold on TPJ in the past fortnight.
The Tigers have formally tabled an offer for the rest of this season and the 2022 campaign, but their package is below Pangai Jnr’s asking price of around $800,000-a-season.
Maguire is not keen to pay $800,000 for Pangai Jnr. While the 25-year-old is one of the most damaging forwards in the code on his day, the Tigers are concerned about Pangai Jnr’s ability to stay on the field, avoid suspensions and deliver consistently.
Canterbury have since upped the ante, with Bulldogs bosses having held preliminary talks with Pangai Jnr, who has played 96 games for the Broncos since his NRL debut in 2016.
Ponga dodges expansion talk
Knights star Kalyn Ponga has sidestepped speculation linking him with a return to Brisbane and declared he wants to deliver Newcastle a premiership.
Ponga has been mooted as a potential marquee signing for Brisbane’s second NRL team if expansion is given the green-light in 2023.
The Queensland Origin star has an option in his favour to leave Newcastle at the end of 2022, making him the ideal target for a 17th franchise.
But Ponga didn’t want to buy into talk of a return to Brisbane when asked in Camp Maroon this week.
“No, I’m happy at the Knights,” he said.
“I want to win a competition, that’s my main goal.
“This week is about Origin and trying to win this game, but in terms of footy I want to win at the Knights.”
While Ponga has said all the right things, he will undoubtedly be a prime recruitment target for a new Brisbane franchise and his contract gives him the option to quit Newcastle.
Sexy Titan secures bumper deal
Titans young gun Toby Sexton has scored one of the richest deals ever for a player yet to feature in the NRL.
The Gold Coast have locked up Sexton until the end of 2024 on a contract worth close to $500,000-a-season at the end.
The massive show of faith from the Titans proves how highly they rate the 20-year-old former Australian Schoolboys star.
Warriors whiz kid Reece Walsh secured a deal worth north of $400,000-a-season to leave the Broncos before he had made his NRL debut. Sexton’s is right up there with it.
Sexton, 20, has been carving up the Intrust Super Cup for Tweed Heads after sitting out all of last year due to Covid.
He is yet to feature in the NRL, but that could change in the back end of the season and the Titans hope Sexton can be a long-term fixture at their scrumbase.
“It gives me added confidence given that I still haven’t played my first first grade game,” Sexton said of his extension.
“I am not trying to look too far ahead. I see all my mates playing first grade like Reecey Walsh and Sam Walker and they are killing it.
“But I have got to look at it long term. Short term I think it has affected some young blokes who have come up but Q-Cup has been a really good competition for me to grow as an individual and play against men on a week-to-week basis. It’s definitely been a challenge.
“If the opportunity came about I would put my hand up and be confident to play but I have to take it one step at a time.”
The investment in Sexton, and extension of current halfback Jamal Fogarty until 2023, is bad news for off-contract five-eighth Ash Taylor.
Taylor is yet to be told whether he is wanted by the Titans but the writing is on the wall.
Gloves off: ‘Sticky’ v Papalii
Canberra’s season of disaster has delivered the knockout punch to Queensland Origin enforcer Josh Papalii’s part-time boxing career.
Raiders coach Ricky ‘Sticky’ Stuart is so filthy with the performance of his erratic Raiders stars this season he has banned any dalliance with outside sporting pursuits, ending any hope Papalii had of returning to the ring.
Papalii made a strong debut in the NRL’s All Stars promotional boxing event in Townsville in February, winning a points decision in a three-round, six-minute contest with gutsy former Broncos and Cowboys prop Ben Hannant.
All Stars promoters have been in talks for Papalii to put the gloves back on for a possible blockbuster against Jason Taumalolo. The second instalment of the event is scheduled for October and while the Maroons prop is keen, his club coach does not share his enthusiasm.
Stuart wants Papalii and Raiders players to focus on the job at hand - keeping the 13th-placed Green Machine away from the wooden spoon.
Taupau offered to the Broncos
Hulking Manly prop Martin Taupau has been shopped to the Broncos following the release of Matt Lodge to the Warriors.
The Broncos have been offered a number of engine-room options since Lodge hit the Red Hill exits, with veteran props Aaron Woods and Ryan James on Brisbane’s radar.
Now there’s another candidate in Taupau. Nicknamed ‘Kapow’ because of his monster biceps and hard hitting, the 31-year-old has been given permission to leave Manly due to salary-cap pressures with Taupau on around $800,000 at Brookvale.
Taupau has amassed 189 NRL games and 27 Tests and would be the perfect experienced bookend to support rising star Payne Haas. His services have been offered to the Broncos several times in recent months, but Brisbane will struggle to afford him due to their own salary-cap headaches.
No go Nikorima
There will be no second coming for Kodi Nikorima at the Broncos.
It is understood Warriors playmaker Nikorima is keen to return to Brisbane on a full-time basis for family reasons after joining the New Zealand club midway through the 2019 season.
At the time Nikorima left the Broncos, he was on the brink of the NRL scrap heap, but he has fought back well at the Warriors, playing 47 games for the club and having now amassed 133 matches since his Brisbane debut in 2015.
Nikorima had a dream rookie year at the Broncos, playing off the bench in Brisbane‘s 2015 grand-final loss to the Cowboys, and still cherishes the club that gave him his NRL debut.
But new Broncos head-of-football Ben Ikin has no interest in tabling a fresh offer for the 27-year-old Nikorima, who has also been linked with Queensland rivals the Titans.
The Broncos are happy with their scrumbase and utility back stocks and don’t see the pint-sized Nikorima fitting into a roster that is craving some senior forward experience.
Lodge eyes big bucks to punch on
Matt Lodge is keen to jump in the boxing ring - six years after his infamous New York rampage.
The former Broncos prop, who joined the Warriors last week, has been in talks with promoters to take part in the second instalment of the NRL All Stars boxing event, scheduled for this October in Townsville.
The inaugural event in February, which included Josh Papalii, Todd Carney, Justin Hodges, Sandor Earl and Junior Paulo was a smash hit, prompting a host of NRL stars to express interest in being part of future boxing promotions.
During his time at the Broncos, Lodge spent time training at Corporate Box in Lutwyche, the same gym that helped former Wallabies star Quade Cooper prepare for his professional fight career.
The only sticking point could be finance. It is understood Lodge wants around $100,000 to take part in the event, a figure that might be considered too expensive given he is a rookie boxer.
Lodge is a polarising figure after his controversial arrest in America in 2015 and would happily play the villain if Australian sports fans wanted to see him hit the canvas.
Chook scores big payday
Roosters premiership-winner Isaac Liu has secured his biggest payday by swapping Bondi for the Gold Coast.
Liu has signed a three-year deal with the Titans worth more than $1.6 million, money the Roosters simply couldn’t match.
The Titans opted not to make a play for Storm forward Dale Finucane because his $700,000-a-season asking price was too much and instead went for Liu.
Liu, 30, will arrive on the Gold Coast as a 200-game player with two NRL titles (2018-19) next to his name.
His acquisition will ensure the Titans have a red-hot forward pack next year along with Queensland Origin trio David Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
The Titans just need some playmakers to guide them around the field now.
Rugby league’s odd couple
Clive Palmer’s relationship with the Queensland Rugby League is just plain weird.
Palmer recently took the QRL to court in a bid to fast track Israel Folau’s return to rugby league on the Gold Coast.
The case cost the QRL around $50,000 and that could have been a lot more if Folau didn’t broker a release from his Catalans contract.
But at a recent FOGS luncheon Palmer paid $40,000 in an auction for two spectator seats on the Queensland bench during Origin II.
Go figure.
Help Webb out
There are going to be plenty of tall and colourful tales spread at Redcliffe Leagues Club next Friday (July 16) in the name of supporting one of rugby league’s bravest men.
The Men of League Foundation are hosting a lunch to raise funds for former Origin enforcer Carl Webb in his fight against Motor Neurone Disease.
Maroons legends Webb, Chris Close, Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva will be interviewed. Tickets are $150 each with bookings to Belinda on (07) 3367 6080 or qldevents@menofleague.com.
Please take your seats
There was an awkward charter flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast on Tuesday.
The Melbourne Storm’s Queensland State of Origin players had their arrival into camp delayed due to Covid hurdles.
The likes of Christian Welch, Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi had to wait in Melbourne until they recorded negative tests before they could join Camp Maroon.
Instead of flying straight to the Gold Coast, the trio hopped on a 12-seat private jet fit for celebrities in Melbourne and arrived in Sydney.
From there, they boarded a Virgin charter flight to the Gold Coast which included the entire NSW Origin team, who have smashed Queensland so far in this series.
The Blues had to shift camp from the Central Coast to Kingscliff to escape Covid hot spots.
Shark attack rocks Storm legend
Melbourne Storm legend Ryan Hoffman has been hit hard after his cousin was attacked by a shark in NSW this week.
Sunshine Coast man Joe Hoffman, Ryan’s cousin, was surfing at Crescent Head on the mid north coast when he was mauled by a three-metre great white shark.
The attack left him badly injured and in a critical condition. Joe is recovering well but if it wasn’t for holidaying surgeons nearby the outcome could have been catastrophic.
Storm ditch cars
The Storm were in such a rush to get back to Melbourne they had to abandon their loan cars on the Sunshine Coast.
The Storm were forced to get out of the state quickly before south east Queensland went into its recent three-day lockdown.
They packed up their Twin Waters base in a matter of hours before hopping on a charter flight to head back to Melbourne.
The move happened so fast that the Storm didn’t have time to return the cars they borrowed from feeder club Brisbane Tigers.
Tigers coach Jon Buchanan drove up to Twin Waters this week with some mates to bring the cars back to Brisbane.
The Storm had to leave a fair bit of gear behind at Twin Waters which made it back to their AAMI Park headquarters in Melbourne this week by truck.
Swimming spat over Olympic flag
The choice of swimming star Cate Campbell as one of Australia’s flag-bearers for the Tokyo Olympics has sparked outrage from supporters of Dolphins teammate Emily Seebohm.
Sport Confidential can reveal Seebohm’s family members are furious at the decision, insisting the 29-year-old should have been chosen ahead of Campbell. They believe Seebohm has a superior swimming resume to Campbell.
Five-time Olympic Medallist Seebohm has won a total of 56 medals at major meets, including 20 gold. That’s 20 more medals than fellow five-time Olympic medallist Campbell, who has won 36 gongs, 22 of which have been gold.
Either way, it’s a close call and while Seebohm would have been equally deserving, it’s hard to ignore the claims of Campbell, who will embark on her fourth Games and is the darling of the Australian swim team.
Patty Mills and Campbell will make history in Tokyo when they become Australia’s first male and female joint flag-bearers as part of the Olympic movement’s gender equality push.
But the Seebohm clan are adamant team veteran Emily has been dudded of a career-defining honour.
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