Peter Beattie backs push to bring Israel Folau back to NRL

ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie has endorsed rugby league’s pursuit of cross-code superstar Israel Folau.

ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie finishing off his Commonwealth Games duties on the Gold Coast yesterday. Picture: Alex Coppel

ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie doesn’t share Israel Folau’s views but he has defended the player’s democratic right to express them and endorsed rugby league’s pursuit of the cross-code superstar as he contemplates whether to return to the NRL.

Folau has been in the eye of a storm since posting incendiary comments on social media more than a week ago in which he claimed gays would go to hell ­unless they repent.

Those comments, and the subsequent reaction from Rugby Australia, have led to suggestions Folau could consider making a rugby league comeback when his rugby union contract expires at the end of this year.

As many as six NRL clubs are believed to be monitoring the situation and if one of them decides to pursue Folau, they will do so with the backing of Beattie.

“Look, in terms of his comments, there is nothing illegal with what he said,” Beattie told The Australian. “They are not views that I share. But we do live in a democracy and people are entitled to views as long as they are not ­illegal.

“If we ever got to the stage where everyone in rugby league was of the same mind, it would be pretty boring. Diversity means people can have different views we don’t agree with.

“He obviously comes from a Christian position in his view and he is quoting the Bible. The reality is people like me don’t agree with him but that shouldn’t stop him playing football.”

Asked about whether he would like to see Folau back in rugby league, Beattie said: “He’s a great player. No doubt he is an incredibly good football player and to have him in the game would be great. That is up to clubs who want to do that negotiation with a tick-off from the NRL at some point. But I just think he is a great player, he is exciting and that would be good for the game. He is one of the most exciting players. As a footy fan I would love to see him playing rugby league. I would like to see all the best players playing rugby league.”

Beattie has spent the past fortnight on Queensland’s Gold Coast in his capacity as chairman of the Commonwealth Games, although he has kept a close eye on the NRL. His focus will switch solely to rugby league today and among his priorities will be garnering greater support from the top end of town as the game looks to increase its corporate support among the business community’s heavy hitters.

Some of those businesses would no doubt frown on Folau’s comments given the backlash Rugby Australia experienced from its major sponsors.

“I think what we have to remember is that while those companies and sponsors are entitled to their view, we do have to remember that the whole basis of a democracy is that provided people stay within they law, freedom of speech is a really important plank of it,” Beattie said. “I just think we should be a little careful here not to get too autocratic about what people can and can’t say.”

Beattie also insisted the decision to commit more State of Origin games and Test matches to Victoria would help foster growth — one of his stated aims when he took over from John Grant last month.