Peter Beattie slams door on Israel Folau return to NRL

The NRL yesterday refused to bite on Israel Folau and his future. They have enough on their plate

ARL Commission chair Peter Beattie has effectively slammed the door on any hope Israel Folau had of returning to rugby league by declaring the dual international fails the code’s inclusiveness test.

Beattie, wary of further damage to a code that has spent the opening months of the season rebuilding its reputation in the eyes of sponsors and supporters, went on the front foot following revelations Rugby Australia was ready to sack Folau over his latest comments on social media.

“He fails rugby league’s inclusiveness test,” Beattie said. “We’re about being inclusive. From our point of view rugby union has made a decision that clearly rugby league would support.

“If you are not inclusive, frankly at the end of the day that is now what rugby league is about. Rugby union has made the right decision, which we support.”

The ARL Commission and NRL have spent recent months talking up the need to protect the game’s image. Hence the introduction of the no-fault stand-down policy, designed to take players facing serious criminal charges out of the spotlight.

The rule was brought in to ensure sponsors and supporters didn’t depart en masse. Folau hasn’t been charged with a criminal offence, but he has been found guilty in the court of public opinion following his latest utterances on social media in which he suggested homosexuals and “other sinners” would go to hell.

In the current climate, the commission has no desire to see Folau back in the code.

Clubs are often more forgiving and some would no doubt relish the chance to sign Folau, given he remains a top-shelf athlete, capable of having a transformative effect on any rugby league side.

North Queensland need a fullback after missing out on Valentine Holmes and were quickly linked with the former Brisbane and Melbourne star.

However, it is understood they do not see Folau as a No 1 in rugby league and have no interest in signing him regardless. They would prefer to hold their nerve and wait to see how Holmes pans out in America.

The New Zealand Warriors have money burning a hole in their pocket. The Warriors recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan was the man who discovered Folau as a teenager, taking him to the Storm where he took the first steps on a career that has bridged codes and made him a household name.

They could explore the possibility, although again they would need to convince their supporters, sponsors and the NRL that he is worth the risk. The same applies to numerous other clubs who have space or could make it to sign Folau, among them Newcastle and Wests Tigers.

Parramatta also have history with Folau, having tried to sign him when he first returned from the AFL, only to lose out to rugby.

They have loads of money but have other priorities, most notably captain Clint Gutherson and halfback Mitchell Moses — the club held a recruitment and retention meeting yesterday as news was breaking of Folau’s likely termination by Rugby Australia.

It is understood they could table a new deal to Gutherson as early as today as they look to put their supporters’ minds at peace before they begin life at their new stadium — they play their first game there in just over a week.

Regardless, the Eels were inadvertently dragged into the saga when two of their players — Tim Mannah and Michael Jennings — liked Folau’s Instagram post. Mannah later unliked the post after being contacted by club officials.

There was a time when clubs would move heaven and earth to sign Folau. So too would the NRL.

Chief executive Todd Greenberg has a strong relationship with the dual international and spoke to him the last time he came off contract to gauge whether he would be interested in switching back to rugby league.

It is hard to envisage him doing the same again. Folau will no doubt land on his feet. He is only 30 and remains an outstanding athlete. Someone, somewhere will take a chance on him. It seems unlikely it will be in rugby league.