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Maria and Israel Folau’s journey as Silver Ferns hero becomes vilified wife

When Israel Folau and his wife Maria tied the knot, she made a pledge that is being tested as the spotlight intensifies around the couple.

ACL 'not surprised' but condemnation of Israel Folau's wife (Today)

Maria Folau has been garnering almost as much coverage as her husband Israel over the pair’s controversial fundraising campaign to fight his legal battle against Rugby Australia.

As the donations continue to tumble in on a new campaign page, hosted by the Australian Christian Lobby, Maria has been pushed further into the debate as her own sporting career faces examination.

But as a champion in her own right she’s used to the spotlight — and showing she’s prepared to stand beside the love of her life.

THE ROMANCE

At 32, Maria is two years her husband’s senior but ever since they met the pair has been as inseparable as possible, despite a long-distance relationship.

The pair had been in a relationship for nine months before they went public, after being spotted together in Sydney and shortly after that announced their engagement in October 2016.

Almost a year later Folau opened up about the challenges he and Maria faced juggling their relationship and their respective careers.

“I felt very quickly that this relationship was different to anything else I’d known and Maria was the person I wanted to spend forever with,” he said.

“We knew at the time we committed to each other that the next period of our lives would be full of challenges.

“I want Maria to achieve everything she can out of her netball career, and she feels the same way about my footy.

Maria Tutaia & Israel Folau after announcing their engagement.
Maria Tutaia & Israel Folau after announcing their engagement.

“Some days I jump on a plane to Auckland in the morning and fly back to Sydney the same night (you should see my frequent flyer points). Other days I talk on the phone for hours and hours (you should see my phone bills).”

Both before and after they were married the pair had plied their trades on opposite sides of the Tasman but eventually tied the knot in November of 2017 at Kangaroo Valley in the NSW Southern Highlands.

When sharing a snap from her nuptials on Instagram, Maria wrote: “Two imperfect people who refuse to give up on one another.” She’s certainly living up to that despite the incredible pressure on the pair right now.

SILVER FERNS’ BIG GUN

Maria was a star in her own right before even meeting the code-hopping former Australian rugby gun.

She debuted for her country at just 16 and she comes from a sporting family with cousin Siliva Siliva having played Super Rugby for the Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels.

Maria Folau in action for the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Maria Folau in action for the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

The talented goal attack is famous for nailing crucial goals at key moments in nailbiting games and has built a reputation as a formidable player on the court for both the Adelaide Thunderbirds and New Zealand’s national team the Silver Ferns.

Despite Folau’s prowess under the net, her time as one of the biggest stars the Silver Ferns, with 128 caps could be considered a failure.

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They won Commonwealth gold in 2006 and 2010 but since then the big tournament wins have dried up and they finished out of the medals at the 2018 Comm Games on the Gold Coast.

Additionally they have not done any better than winning silver at the World Championships during Folau’s best years but will be looking to change that this year in Liverpool, England.

ANZ bank condemns Maria Folau

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE CONTROVERSY BEGINS

The couple’s wedding was overshadowed by her husband’s comments about the same-sex marriage postal survey, where 69 per cent of Australians voted in support of changing the law to permit gay couples to marry.

Now Maria, despite not having commented publicly, has backed her husband’s views on social media platforms.

“Stand with God no matter what … Don’t be afraid to stand up for the truth, even if that means you will be standing alone,” she posted on Instagram following Israel’s first controversial post last year.

Israel Folau with his wife Maria Folau at Kenthurst Uniting Church after a Sunday service.
Israel Folau with his wife Maria Folau at Kenthurst Uniting Church after a Sunday service.

And just this week, she backed her man again, as she reposted her husband’s plea for people to donate to his cause via GoFundMe, including a link to the page in her Instagram bio — that post earned the ire of Australian netball great Liz Ellis, who unleashed on social media.

Back in her native New Zealand, there are calls for the sport’s governing body Netball New Zealand to issue disciplinary action.

So far, the organisation has stood by its star player.

Maria is returning home to train with the NZ Silver Ferns before the Netball World Cup next month and with her husband’s hearing with the Fair Work Commission beginning Friday the scrutiny she faces may only increase.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/maria-and-israel-folaus-journey-as-silver-ferns-hero-becomes-vilified-wife/news-story/55751bf4ee1b5b6fb40fc18bb3859691