Former Diamonds call Israel Folau’s campaign ‘ludicrous’, but support Maria playing netball

Three former Australian Diamonds all agree: Silver Fern Maria Folau’s recent social media posts should not prevent her from playing netball.

Maria Folau with Bianca Chatfield, Sharelle McMahon and Nat Medhurst. Picture: Supplied

Three former Australian Diamonds all agree: Silver Fern Maria Folau’s recent social media posts should not prevent her from playing netball.

Speaking on Melbourne radio station RSN’s Inner Circle podcast, Collingwood Magpie and current president of the Australian Netball Players’ Association Nat Medhurst described Israel Folau’s crowdfunding campaign as “ludicrous”, but added that the union was supporting Maria.

Medhurst added that netball administrators in Australia and New Zealand had been naive, and caught on the back foot.

“(Maria) should certainly be playing, but from here it needs to be made pretty clear both from all players in the league but also Maria that going forward, what is the line, what is acceptable? And then what are the repercussions if anyone crosses that.

“We don’t want to be a sport where we’re bringing in discrimination, segregating people based on sexuality or anything like that. It’s a very contentious issue, a very sensitive one.”

Last Friday, Maria Folau shared her husband Israel’s social media posts announcing a crowdfunding campaign to support his fight against former employer Rugby Australia.

Two days later, Netball Australia and Netball South Australia both issued statements supporting Maria, and insisting that she had not broken any social media policies. Netball New Zealand did the same on Tuesday.

Netball sponsors ANZ and HCF have both registered their concerns about the campaign with netball administrators, but have not threatened to withdraw their support for the sport.

Medhurst’s comments were echoed by podcast hosts Bianca Chatfield and Sharelle McMahon, both former Diamonds. McMahon is currently employed by the Vixens as an assistant coach.

“I think the gofundme is ridiculous, I can’t believe that they put that out there. However... we need to start asking the questions of where (Maria) is at and how she’s feeling about it. I want to hear from her” Chatfield said.

McMahon added that Australian netball administrators had little leeway to sanction Folau for her posts.

“Really from a contractual perspective, they probably didn’t have anywhere else to go with that.

“I would hope that things have been made very, very clear to Maria as to how that can play in the future, that she’s got no grey area around what is and is not OK.”

Yesterday, the Australian World Cup team unveiled its tournament dress in Sydney. The press conference was dominated by questions about Folau, a New Zealand player.

Medhurst said that the players’ union is doing its best to support the Diamonds, as the Folau story threatens to hijack the tournament.