NZ media fire at Israel Folau for destabilising Silver Ferns

New Zealand media have ripped into Israel Folau for trying to destabilise the Silver Ferns netball team.

New Zealand netballer Maria Folau. Picture: Getty Images

Israel Folau’s controversial comments that God’s plan for gays is hell unless they repent has been seen as a selfish act that could destabilise New Zealand’s hopes of a gold medal in netball at the Commonwealth Games.

Any number of people and rugby shareholders have been left to count the cost of Folau’s homophobic post on Instagram, with Rugby Australia still assessing its meeting with Folau on Tuesday before deciding how or even if it will proceed against him.

But spare a thought for the person who could become a casualty of this crisis, Folau’s wife, Maria. She is the star shooter for the Silver Ferns, New Zealand’s champion netball side. They have played in every Commonwealth Games final since netball was introduced to the Games program in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 but the odds on that happening at the Gold Coast are lengthening after the Silver Ferns beat Uganda in their opening game but since then have lost to Malawi (57-53) and England (54-45).

Typically, New Zealand media have seized on Folau’s statement as a perverse way of destabilising the Kiwis’ netball squad.

“At best, what the Wallabies fullback unleashed was an ill-­advised stream of consciousness,” the NZ Herald reported.

“His wife will now be questioned on the matter if the opportunity presents at the netball, until she clarifies how her views compare or contrast to Israel’s. Until then, irrespective of the rights or wrong of the situation, she could be tethered to his perspective by association.

“At worst, Folau’s outburst was a selfish act which, given the Silver Ferns’ reliance on his wife’s accuracy, could threaten to disrupt an already delicate campaign.”

Meanwhile, the Australian men’s sevens team moved into the Athlete’s Village late yesterday with all eyes on James Stannard’s replacement — and not just for the obvious reason that he has taken on a vital role.

It’s fair to say the Lucas brothers have always taken pride in their hair, Ben at halfback for the Queensland Reds, Matt at halfback for the Brumbies, Tom at halfback for the Australian sevens team. So when Tom suddenly turned up as a virtual skinhead, sevens coach Andy Friend suspected it might mean something.

Precisely what will be revealed over the course of the weekend when Australia strives for a gold medal but Lucas always said he would not get his hair cut until the team had won something.

“So we went and won the Sydney sevens and he reluctantly cut his hair, much to his mother’s delight,” Friend said. “But then he walked in last week and he’d cut it again … basically given himself a skinhead. I thought, Hang on, he’s making a statement here.”

Lucas has stepped into the halfback role that became vacant after Stannard was coward-punched a fortnight ago. The reality now is that Lucas will be the player guaranteed to touch the ball more than any other Australian.

Lucas will be calling the shots along with halves partner Ben O’Donnell, who has moved into five-eighth after captain Louis Holland was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

“The biggest thing for us is that now that those two (Holland and Stannard) aren’t there the others have to step up and ... Tommy Lucas has been fantastic at that.”