There are a number of unwritten rules in sport. You don’t slag off your coach in front of the media, celebrate after scoring against your old club or let an opponent know you’re injured.
Oh yeah, and when changing codes, you should always make sure to take a massive dump on the game you just left
So what’s doing Izzy?
It’s been a few days now since Folau shook hands with the Waratahs and, as of yet, he hasn’t started slinging the muddy stuff at the AFL.
Which is dashed unsporting I think.
For years now both rugby league and rugby union fans have had to put up with players trotting out lines more predictable than a scrum win with the feed after making the switch between codes.
The rugby league star moving to rugby union would wax lyrically about how he was sick of going from “Penrith to Campbelltown” and would now be wowing them “In Paris and Cardiff… wherever they are”.
Upon returning to the 13 man game, the player would then whinge about not fitting in rugby, not getting enough ball and how no one spoke English in Paris.
But, now it’s Aussie Rules’ turn to cop the royal dressing down from the departed, and wouldn’t you know it, they’ve got off Scott free.
Not a peep. Folau couldn’t even take the time to scour the internet forums to find a few stock standard jokes about short shorts and points for missing!
Seriously though what should just be a common courtesy, not ripping on an organisation that has put another level on your house, has become a simmering conspiracy in the last couple of days with regards to Folau.
It started with a rumour doing the rounds that Israel was going to open up both barrels on the AFL following his stint with GWS. Yesterday this morphed into a story that part of Folau’s decision to choose the NSW Waratahs over an NRL club was that he was going to be asked by rugby league’s powerbrokers to attack the AFL, in particular his infant former club.
Of course with the way things panned out and the Waratahs cutting in on the dance, it’s difficult to know where the truth lies in this matter – be the rumours just something Kevin Sheedy baked up in between recruiting some Peruvian full-forwards or in fact an NRL plot more dastardly than the face of the game curse they inadvertently invented.
Either way, while the new breed of alpha athlete like Folau may test the patience of fans with their gun for hire mentality, the way Israel has so far accepted his limitations in Aussie Rules without the need to bag the game as he exits is one thing he’s done right so far.
Sure maybe I’m over estimating the bloke. Maybe he’s just taking the time to consult with funny man Beau Ryan before roasting the game with the red ball. Or maybe just waiting for that first Tahs cheque to clear.
I for one hope not though, and that Folau is instead raising the bar for his fellow code hoppers. Because if these players really want us to respect their personal decisions, they should make sure they show the same respect to our sports when they jump into the sack with another game.
Because after all, even unwritten rules are made to be broken.
Follow Chris on Twitter @Vic_Arious
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Why would he bag the AFL? They put $3m in his back pocket and he picked up new kicking and overhead marking skills he never had before, and he took his endurance to a level he'd never taken it before. Sure he didn't go as well as he might have expected but he got a lot out of it, and he made genuine friendships with Giants team mates over a couple of seasons. I saw the giants v north Melbourne replay today which was the last game of the season. Folau showed pretty good form in that game. Like Sheedy, I think it's a shame Folau didn't go on for another season in the AFL because there would have been big improvements in year three of his contract - time and again we see with players transitioning from other codes it takes more than a couple of seasons before they can raise the bar. Anyway looking forward to see Folau in RUnion and if it doesn't work out RLeague will welcome him back with open arms despite the way the childish RL media are carrying on right now.
Dingo
Guest
This. "something Kevin Sheedy baked up in between recruiting some Peruvian full-forwards". :D
Chris Chard
Expert
As the ad used to say- "I'd like to see that!"
Chris Chard
Expert
Yes agreed Ballymore, he was definitely the worst for mine....managed to trot out the cliches upon leaving both rugby codes with aplomb! One hopes he didn't do the same when switching between Aus and NZ indigenous sides...
Brendan
Guest
Very fair summation of the situation. Folau had a go provided publicity for his team and has now decided Afl isn't for him.There were a few Irish players who couldn't adapt before Jimmy Stynes so i see this as a similar scenario where Folau , Hunt and Jack have led the way for others to follow.In the areas of NSW where Afl and rugby are equally popular many champion aussie rules footballers have been recruited and equally many league players hail from those regions .
Ballymore
Guest
I believe slagging off your former code is called "doing a Tahu".
TW
Guest
On November 20 AFL NSW confirmed officially that the Independent Schools AFL Comp in Sydney will commence in May 2013. There are four CAS, One GPS and One ISA schools initially involved in the Sat Morning Comp Additional schools are showing interest and may add further teams. Would not think playing numbers will be huge and do not know the team format - 18 a side or less. But the door has been opened after AFL NSW had been trying for ten years or so for this to happen but were not successful except for Riverview.
Australian Rules
Guest
CC, his games probably weren't bad enough to be elevated into "good" category. If, in game 1, he fumbled the ball, tackled someone around the ankles, ran the length of the field the wrong way without bouncing, lined up for a goal, kicked it out of bounds on the full, and then called his teammates for a scrum...then yes, he'd definitely go down as "so bad he was good". But in the end he was just regular bad...not Meatloaf bad.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
He was a project player who washed out. Had some nice physical skills, didnt have the tank and had trouble with the mental side of the game. He was also thrown into a bad situation, with a string of injuries among a thin group of tall forwards meaning he was needed to play more firsts than he should have. *shrug* its footy. Its a game. I think he was a good hire, and I wish him the best in his future.
TC
Guest
Isn't that a debate you should have with League rather than Australian Football? Yes, it's true that the sculpturing process (as far as physique goes) will start around the age of 14 to 16 once a young athlete decides on their preferred sport, but the player will also have a clearer idea on their aptitudes by then, they will have a preference for one or the other. Some boys will already be either bean poles or thick set by then. If there is to be further collaboration between rugby and the AFL - then isn't that an opportunity to extend the amount of rugby played across the Southern states? TC
TC
Guest
No, I disagree. In the past decade all of the Broncos, Reds and Lions have experienced strong seasons, with strong attendances - almost simultaneously. In Canberra, the Brumbies are a very strong brand, and rugby is more popular than Australian Football. So personally, I think rugby and the AFL co-exist very nicely (as they have done for 154 years). TC
Bruce Lee
Guest
What a load of bull about not competing over same athletes. Is it just a quirk of nature that most wallabies come from Sydney and so few come from Melbourne? Are Sydney siders somehow genetically predisposed to rugby whilst melbournians are predisposed to afl? Of course not. If afl did not exist, you would have half the wallabies coming from Melbourne. Afl and rugby are huge competitors for young talent. More so than the league and union are. League is in a sense less of a worry because it is much easier to make the transition to union and vice versa. On the other hand, it's much harder than going between afl and eithet rugby. You can say that afl players are too lean for rugby. But that's because the sport they have focused on since being six years old has been about endurance and kicking skills. If they were playing rugby from age of six then their focus would be different.
Droppa
Guest
Just another winger.
clipper
Guest
Good point, TKC, agree with you. The only problem in Sydney is that they're both strong in the more affluent areas leaving the rest for league and Football, although Football has a good following all over the city.
Chris Chard
Expert
Wonder if in years to come GWS fans will view a coupe of Folau's games at the club in the same light...
Doghouse
Guest
Titus, I think you maybe be overstating it but more like Rugby would return to its near amateur roots but they still have internationals. Maybe they would get all their players from classy 18 years old NRL players and show them the world...
Titus
Guest
Lol......AFL expansion into NSW and QLD woud be the death of Rugby.
TC
Guest
Rugby and Australian Football are natural bedfellows. We are like long lost cousins, in the modern age we have a tiny bit in common, but enough differences for us to be able to plan talent identifications programs jointly, and to offer both games up to all private shools. It's only in very rare circumstances that we would fight over the same athlete, for the most part, a kid would know by the time he is 15 where his aptitude lay. Importantly, it would be about more kids playing sport well into their teenage years. The private schools are gradually coming around, and it will be to the betterment of both sports. Also, being only a domestic sport, Australian Football fans are a natural fan base for the Wallabies, and should be pursued. TC
Punter
Guest
Ummm interesting an AFL/ARU alliance!!!!
The Kebab Connoisseur
Guest
Good on Izzy for maintaining the "unofficial" AFL/ARU alliance against the common enemy. Another black eye for the NRL which is good for footy.