An anchor has been cut from rugby in Australia following the conclusion of the Israel Folau saga, former Test star turned commentator Greg Martin says.
RA and Folau issued a joint statement on Wednesday after reaching a confidential settlement, with both parties apologising for their actions.
The matter has been hanging over RA and the Wallabies for the past seven months since Folau was sacked from his $4m four-year contract for inflammatory social media posts and Martin was thrilled to see the end of it.
Martin said Folau had been dragging rugby down through the Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Championship and last month’s World Cup in Japan.
“We’ve had some good results with the under 20s, we’ve got a new (Wallabies) coach, but every time there’s good news Izzy has stuck his head up and said, ‘I want more money, I’m still suing, I haven’t gone away’, Martin told AAP.
“Well today is like Christmas because he’s finally gone away.
“The anchor has been cut and we’ve finally cut him loose so that’s the last we will hear of him and rugby.”
Martin said he wasn’t concerned that RA had to apologise to Folau as part of the settlement but felt there were still questions over chief executive Raelene Castle’s handling of the matter.
“That’s lawyer stuff – they wanted that and to reach a settlement everyone had to give a bit of ground and Australian rugby union (RA) had to give a lot of money so that’s the way it’s gone,” he said.
“There will be a bit of digging going on as to what happened with his contract that it wasn’t water-tight so we couldn’t sack him after he’d done it (posted) once.”
The settlement doesn’t appear to have opened the door for Folau to return to playing football, in any code.
In the joint statement there was no comment from RA about his playing future while Folau also didn’t mention his next career move after stints in league, AFL and then rugby.
A spokesman for Folau said that he wouldn’t be making any immediate comment about his future, while RA said the 30-year-old wouldn’t be playing rugby in Australia again under the current administration.
Folau’s most recent comments, linking the current bushfires to gay marriage, immediately put him offside with new Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys.
His predecessor Peter Beattie had already said Folau would not be welcome in the NRL and V’landys backed that stance, saying he had zero tolerance for the ex-Storm and Broncos star’s anti-gay messages.
A future in French rugby is also unlikely with outspoken owner of rugby club Toulon, Mourad Boudjellal, labelling Folau a “moron”.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
I pay for Foxtel; I'm allowed to dislike the commentators. I do turn the sound off regularly.
Harry Jones
Expert
It has to be about that. $3-4M.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Harry I guess it depends how you calculate it, whether or not accounting for costs and risks of staying the distance. And I don’t think we can put a price on damage to the ‘brand’ and so on. Anyways, I gather from your posts you know a bit about this biz. Wayne Smith has confidently reported the figure was about $3m. I think that sounds credible. What’s your guess?
Ulu
Roar Rookie
Yea you're reaching now...
Ulu
Roar Rookie
Again who are you to tell another man what he thinks is wrong or right? Everything is subjective in your world..... Ali Spoke his mind just like Folau and both put their careers on the line for their beliefs. You can try to ignore the fact but it won't change it. A lot of people support Folau including his former teammates. Reality and LGBTQ go hand in hand LOL Show me the evidence for L,G,B,T,Q being natural, this should be interesting.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
That's true, I meant to say
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
That's try, Gatesy. Last is he's approached the Bulls in SA. Hopefully they'll have enough spine to say no.
Harry Jones
Expert
"You only settle if you are offered a settlement that gives you more than you thought you would get if you continued." Actually, that is totally wrong. A settlement is settling for less than you could get if you won, and you never pay more than you would have to, if you lost, unless you are not well represented. Both sides had great lawyers. So, in truth, both sides are probably about equally unhappy, but have to put a happy face on it. But RA (and its insurance carrier) mitigated its risk (including the slow bleed of PR and steady flood of fees), and Izzy took the complete loss out of the equation.
gatesy
Roar Guru
It wasn't about religion. It was about bloody mindedness and sheer twattery!
gatesy
Roar Guru
With you there, Red Rob - Folaus team was very savvy (albeit the bushfire comments might have been a setback) but up to that point there were positioning RA very well. Raelene kept her powder dry and got a result that none of us can really argue with'. Onward and upward into 2020, the start of a new four year cycle, a new coach, great youngsters coming through and personally I am pumped about the next RWC cycle. Now just got to get the broadcast rights sorted.
gatesy
Roar Guru
Easy to say when you have to look after other peoples' money
gatesy
Roar Guru
That is the beauty of the process. Going to court is like taking a tiger by the tail. You never know how it's going to turn out. RA saved itself a lot of money in legal fees, alone and the uncertainty of a massive costs award. Folau had a pretty smart legal team, so it was always going to be a lottery. As all Rugby tragics know, there is always next week, but now our next weeks are clear of rubbish and lots to look forward to..so everyone take a breath.
gatesy
Roar Guru
... but we go into the new season free of him and he is, by all accounts, on the nose with other codes. Job done, well done RA
gatesy
Roar Guru
Great comment, Nd - so how many Tests did you play? Did your very informed comment make your little fella swell up? Marto is a good bloke, who, in his day to day role of radio jock in Brisbane does a lot of good for a lot of people, but you wouldn't know that would you? Too busy being a brainless attack dog.
gatesy
Roar Guru
You can always turn it off
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What was the misstep Trampas?
Trampas 66
Roar Rookie
Yes and No. The original mis-step by RC was an error subsequently corrected as best she could. I am sure she now knows more about natural justice
Trampas 66
Roar Rookie
The rumours are not true
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Don’t normally agree with a lot Martin says but he’s bang on here. Having it finalised is a great way to end the year.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
You are the one stereotyping Muslim not me. You are beyond help.