Let me throw you a hypothetical. Israel Folau’s manager Isaac Moses sits down in front of you with a simple and clear-cut demand: “If Izzy is to stay in rugby, he’s gotta have No.15 on his back!”
You’re part of the ARU and Waratahs’ player retention panel. Folau is off contract at the end of this season.
Bernard Foley and Michael Hooper are two other big-name off-contract Wallabies you want to re-sign but for now you’ve been given the job to keep Folau in the game.
Of course you want you want to keep him – he’s a freak. He’s in the top three players in Australia and perhaps the most marketable. He’s a phenomenal attacking weapon and the kids love him. His manager knows this and will leverage it for all its worth.
Folau is still only 28, he hasn’t had any major recent injuries to worry about, he’s being chased by NRL clubs, and there’s a Rugby World Cup next year.
But it’s the positional element that’s complicating matters.
You see, he’s just played his first game on the wing in five years, and he was brilliant.
In NSW’s last game a fortnight ago against the Melbourne Rebels, Folau didn’t score a try in the 51-27 rout but he was instrumental in at least three. It was his aerial dexterity – as Gordon Bray would call it – that sparked the second-half surge.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika will be an intrigued onlooker if he keeps plucking high balls from the wing. Even if they don’t go to the air to hit Folau, he at least drags defenders wider that then opens up space in the midfield.
He’s been picked again on the wing for the Tahs’ big derby clash against the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday night.
But is he happy on the ding-a-ling? He’s often said publicly that his favourite position is fullback.
So given his immense value to the Waratahs and Wallabies, it’s entirely legitimate to ponder the scenario in which Folau and his manager insist he gets the No.15 jersey. Or he walks.
How far would you be willing to go to keep him happy? Do you bow to his demand? Who holds the power?
With the NRL’s new and improved salary cap, Folau could probably get at least $800,000 a season to switch codes. The Gold Coast Titans are one club rumoured to be moving in on him with a big offer.
Losing Folau a year out from a World Cup would be a PR disaster for Rugby Australia, especially if Raelene Castle can’t get the deal done in her first year as chief executive.
Or do the Tahs and RA have enough swagger to believe that Folau wants to stay, the lure of another World Cup is precious and they’ve got the depth to cover if he quits the Wallabies?
Dane Haylett-Petty is a quality fullback and it can be argued that Kurtley Beale is best bringing the ball back in the No.15 jersey. Reece Hodge is another solid fullback option.
Or does it even matter? With good coaching, the positions are arguably interchangeable and it may not matter if Folau has No.14 or No.15 on his jersey. He might set up on the wing in attack depending on where they are on the field, but drop back to fullback in defence.
Perhaps moving Folau to the wing was a power play by the Waratahs. Bryce Hegarty is going well at fullback, but the timing is surprising. Why has it taken this long to move Folau away from fullback?
Remember that incredible leap by Folau in the 2008 State of Origin game when he hurdled over the top of Anthony Quinn for a Queensland try?
A few of Folau’s takes against the Rebels proved he’s still incredibly potent in the air, although it only takes a few inaccurate Foley kicks to make the tactic look too high risk and foolish.
It’s probably too early to make a call, but maybe Folau has played his last game at fullback.
But if he wants to return to fullback, and with a World Cup on the horizon, is his wish granted?
Cheikmate
Guest
"Outstanding person"? Israel Folau just published a global social media post stating he believes all gay people should burn in hell - his words. Care to re-assess? The guy is clearly a delusional religious zealot, and should be reprimanded for making such disgraceful bone-headed comments.
Captain Sensible
Guest
Out of 100 for a Fullback.
Malo
Guest
Miss Castle left the doggies in a mess, she won’t be negotiating the Folau deal. They will just say yes to Folau manager
Malo
Guest
HE IS A 15
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Thanks Fionn I didn't realise that.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Pure speculation regarding what I think Cheika will do. For June, I would be tempted to go: Sio Uelese Kepu Rodda Coleman Dempsey Pocock Timu Genia Lance Koroibete Beale Hodge Folau Maddocks Paenga-Amosa Slipper Tupou Tui Hooper Ruru Foley Kerevi
Malo
Guest
100% correct. Rogers was woeful
Marty
Guest
Definitely a winger. Fullbacks need a better tactical mind. No disrespect to Folou as he does have some beautiful instincts, especially in attack, it's just that I think he lacks to smarts of some of the great fullbacks around the globe and gets caught out far too often.
Fionn
Guest
What we did with Pocock being what? Before you reply bear in mind that it has been explained by people on the Roar countless times that Pocock's contract was for two playing seasons of $1.1 million, with a sabbatical season in the middle. Therefore, he was paid for two seasons of playing, just over three years rather than two.
Fionn
Guest
But then again I don't hear many people bashing Rogers either. People see him as a very talented guy who showed a lot in his first few years in rugby, but who never really fulfilled his full potential after the glimpses he showed early. Maybe he just wasn't as great as we wanted him to be.
boonzie
Guest
He certainly ended up being one... but he certainly didn't start that way. He absolutely got better with age.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
On reflection I wouldn't mind betting that this is a player manager using the position issue as a stalking horse, to try and squeeze extra dollars out of his next and most likely final contract with RA.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Dave-S I think both situations show who is in charge in the negotiations. What we did with Pocock was unforgivable in my book. A lesser piece of stupidity is not playing Cooper whilst he is paid, reportely, $700k a year.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
OMG Jeznez not the Simple Simmons Surely? I think you point to the fact that Cheika cannot pick a team with young talent as he (and we) are far too conservative - The Reds this season with Brad Thorn and Phil Mooney in 08 are the only exceptions to an all too predicatable slow downhill slope, as we lean on what we know because we can't see anything else.. Ignore young talent and it will go away or look elsewhere!
Muzzo
Guest
Only in Australia, Birdy. Cheers
tyrone
Guest
“If Izzy is to stay in rugby, he’s gotta have No.15 on his back!” I would say if he wants to stay in Rugby he needs to learn to pass left to right and to kick the ball at a primary school level
GusTee
Roar Pro
No player is bigger than the team. Regrettably, Australian sport has more than its fair share of players who think that the are. Israel Folau is both a remarkable player and an outstanding person. Ascribing this sort of demand to him does not fit the image he projects. I hope, for the sake of Australian rugby and the man himself, that Will's hypothetical is not founded in reality.
Soapit
Guest
Funny that thats the only error anyone ever seem s to be able to name though.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
I don’t care what the Waratahs do, but I reckon Israel Folau is only worth his ARU top up if he is prepared to make his best effort to help the Wallabies win. If his best effort is going to be made from the wing, but he will only play fullback, then he should not be kept on. We have enough other good players to cover both positions.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
+1. Whoever makes the offer to Folau should offer him his market value, but when it comes to selections they should make like Brad Thorn and tell Izzy to fit in or faff off.