Back on December 4 last year I wrote that signing Israel Folau was a bad call. And with every good reason, at the time.
He had played for the Broncos in 2011, Greater Western Sydney in 2012 and was ready to play his third different code in as many years with the Waratahs in 2013.
I asked if he had any integrity, any loyalty, any sense of belonging? Or was he just chasing the big buck?
I also mentioned three previous league signings – Mat Rogers (2002), Wendell Sailor (2002), and Lote Tuqiri (2003) – which were big news at the time as the first retaliation to the 13-man code since rugby turned pro in 1996.
Tuqiri was the only decent buy, there were no regrets when Sailor and Rogers returned to league.
That’s the background.
In the interim, Israel Folau has proved me dead-set wrong, and nobody is more delighted than I am.
While I’m happy to admit my original mistake, I was also the first to predict Folau would be a Wallaby and play an important role in the Lions series, once I’d seen him play.
And was howled down by a battalion of Roarers.
So let’s get the equation right.
Folau is a class act, and he’s getting better every game, as the Kings found out last weekend when the fullback cut them to ribbons in yet another man-of-the-match performance.
Folau has a rugby instinct, which Rogers, Sailor, Tuqiri, and Tamana Tahu never had. Both codes have vastly different defensive and attacking patterns, Folau is far more advanced after just 10 games than the other four were in their entire rugby careers.
They all had speed, but only Folau of the five knows where to be at the right time and place, and he’s only been playing rugby for “five minutes”.
Instinct is like ball sense, you have either got it, or you haven’t.
Folau has instinct to burn and once he realises rugby has a helluva lot more to offer than league, he will feel a lot more comfortable.
Best summed up by the old, but true, saying – play rugby and see the world.
League’s world is limited to New Zealand and England, as the only three nations who can play the game.
Folau has played both codes in New Zealand, but has now played rugby in South Africa for the first of many times, and has Argentina, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and France to look forward to, just for starters.
And he will prove to be by far the best league buy.
But there were 17 Wallabies who proved to be good buys for league since World War 2.
Ken Kearney and Rex Mossop in the 50s, Arthur Summons, Mike Cleary, Jimmy Lisle, Dick Thornett, Kevin Ryan, and Bob Honan in the 60s, Phil Hawthorne, John Brass, Stephen Knight, Geoff Richardson, and Ray Price in the 70s, Michael O’Connor in the 80s, Ricky Stuart, and Scott Gourley in the 90s, and Andrew Walker in 2000.
Four of them became Kangaroo captains – Kearney, Summons, Hawthorne, and Brass.
It’s impossible to think any Wallaby would ever again switch to league.
But Israel Folau may yet open the doors for the likes of Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, or Nathan Merritt to switch.
And not one of those five would be a bad call.
hammertime
Guest
Are we seeing the last of the blues for 2013?
Greg
Guest
He hasn't been gifted anything You can't be gifted anything in football mate There are no silver spoons out on the field Just sink or swim
mikkey
Guest
Tana Umaga played both codes growing in Wainuiomata.
Markus
Guest
Engaging in contract negotiations with the Parramatta Eels for months on end before suddenly announcing a one-year contract with the Waratahs out of left field, that it later turned out was on the back of a generous ARU top-up, does more to suggest he is only here for one year than it does that he is here for the long haul. While of course there is no proof until he has signed a contract for 2014 with someone, there is certainly more evidence to suggest the former than the latter.
mikkey
Guest
Only because the RLWC is held in those four countries and if that hadn't happen the Kangaroo's would have never been to Ireland this year or ever.
Andrew C (waikato)
Guest
Are you old enough to remember PHIL HAWTHORNE , David ? :) - and I'm a Kiwi, mate !!! I recall Matt Rogers as being a roaring success for the Wallabies (albeit a few faux pas along the way).
Positive Rugby
Guest
I think all those jumping on the 'pick Folau' bandwagon may end up with egg on their face. A few good runs against weak opposition and and a handful of offloads don't make a Wallaby fullback. He was missing in action against the Reds who put pressure on him and totally closed him down. I think Deans may well pick him and he will be found out in the first 20 minutes by the Lions because of the weakness in his kicking and defensive game. He is a great attcking fullback but if Digby is in the team (likely) then we can't afford a poor kicker back there with Digby, a non-kicker. Mogg has a great kicking game but I think I would go with Beale who is an OK kicker and offers more constant attacking intent and danger than Mogg who tends to have games where he just kicks or passes.
Mike
Guest
No not in the least. I just haven't heard "shiresman" before. Occasionally you might hear shireboy or shiregirl or hobbits, but we are so insular that mostly we don't use any word to describe ourselves.
Sage
Guest
Totally irrelevant but I was there for the first time last week so thought I'd ask. A mate grew up there and was showing us around. Much nicer than I'd imagined. Apologies if I offended with my Tolkienesque description of your locale.
Dirk
Guest
"Finally, even if you plucked them straight from the NRL and put them in Wallaby jerseys to face the Lions this year, Inglis, Smith, Cronk, Thurston, Slater and co would do a better job than their Wallaby counterparts. In league or union I would take those guys over Beale, JOC, Genia, Digby and Cooper any day of the week. 9. Cameron Smith 10. Cooper Cronk 11. Brett Morris 12. Jonathan Thurston 13. Greg Inglis 14. Akuila Uate 15. Billy Slater Now that’s a backline the Lions would fear." Seriously? Good players sure but better than the Wallaby backline? You're avin' a laugh. Brett Morris?
Happy Feet
Guest
Then again we got no control over the Roar who allow small minded reporters such as your self to publish such a thinly veiled attack on the sport a lot of visitors to this site quite enjoy in the race to attract revenue. Then again it pretty dark where I live, as people like you cast a dark shadow over everything that you're associated with.
Jerry
Guest
Jez - quite, everyone knows Blair Larsen was the best player in the world in 1993, with Arran Pene a close second. According to the Romanian Daily Bugle anyway.
amband
Guest
actually, it's only northern England
Worlds biggest
Guest
Jimmy, not wanting to go tit for tat but you'll find the Wallaby players will travel this year to South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina, Ireland, Scotland and France. Even the most staunch League supporter acknowledges the game is really only played seriously in the North of England, New Zealand & PNG. There is very little league played in Wales, Ireland and France. I can see why they are hosting WC games there to lift the profile. World Cup year aside, David was making the point that in League you will travel to NZ, England and maybe New Guinea.
matthewthorpe
Roar Pro
Agree with most of the article except about mat rogers, who i thought was a very good rugby player. and he did have a rugby brain, the bloke played flyhalf for australia at both junior and senior international level. wendell and tahu on the other hand...
Jimmy
Guest
David as a massive RL fan I think you should do a little more research before you write your articles. As somebody earlier commented the Catalan Dragons are not based in NZ, Australia or England. FYI there is a RL world cup later in the year in England, Wales, Ireland and France. The Kangaroos are playing their pool games in Cardif, Limerick and England. By the end of this year some of the Aussie players could have traveled to NZ, PNG, England, Wales, Ireland and France. That is more countries than the Wallabies will visit so just a bit of research would not go a stray before writing such nonsense.
Steve
Guest
So Sisa Waqa can make the grade in the NRL from Gordon 1st grade, Jared Warea-Hargreaves from Northern Suburbs Ist grade and Tyson Frizeel can make it from the Aussie Schoolboys but certain Wallaby players can't, ok i understand.
Respect
Guest
Supertstar - you cannot be serious. You have lost all credibilty with that post. Clearly you don't like rugby and it might be a little hard to understand for you. Rugby is much more specialised; unlike league a hooker can't play halfback, a 2nd rower can't play in the front row as their roles and body shapes are different. Cooper Cronk could not ever clear the ball from the base of a ruck or maul like Genia - they are under immense pressure from loose forwards. That is a no contest. When Piri Weepu trained with the Knights a few years back the were astounded by length and speed of his pass. League players are generally overhyped - look at the sprint race a coupIe of years ago when the leaguies were going on about what superior athletes they were and got pasted by Lachie Turner and Grant. You just need to face facts- league players are much better than rugby players at playing league, and rugby players are much better at playing rugby. Thye are both professional and highly developed sports and are all good at what they train to do.League is faster and has higher impact; rugby is more intricate and but more varied. Enjoy them both for what they are.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Jerry, It pains me to say it but kobk isn't making up that a French newspaper named Garrick as the world's best player. I remember being bemused by the call then as I am again being reminded of it.
madrid john
Guest
Cooper Cronk is aother one who´d be awesome in Rugby considering he went to St Lauries in Brisbane. Not sure if he had ever played league unti the Broncos signed him up (i think it was them) straight out of school. Oh if only the Reds had...