Wakefield coach Chris Chester says he’s under strict orders not to speak about the Catalans Dragons’ controversial signing Israel Folau as he waits to discover if his side will face the dual-code international on Sunday.
The French club caused a furore when they ignored the pleas of both English Super League and the Rugby Football League by handing a 12-month contract to Folau after he was sacked by Rugby Australia for posting homophobic comments on social media.
Super League plan to implement measures to prevent any further such signings but the issue is clearly still highly sensitive.
Huddersfield cancelled their scheduled weekly pre-match press conference ahead of their visit to the Catalans and now Chester has been told not to answer questions on the subject.
“I’ve been strictly told by the people above and by Super League not to make any comment on anything to do with the gentleman from Catalans and I won’t be making any comment on it,” Chester said on Thursday.
“My hands are tied at this moment in time. Whether that changes over the coming weeks, I don’t know but I’m under strict guidelines here from my chairman and my CEO and also from Super League.
Trinity captain Jacob Miller referred to the club’s support of former teammate Keegan Hirst, the only openly gay player in professional rugby league who has condemned Folau’s arrival in the competition.
Asked if he was surprised by the level of controversy, Miller said: “Not really, especially with us having Keegan Hirst last year. It’s something we’re pretty supportive of as a club.”
Miller concedes the former Wallabies and Waratahs winger and fullback would be a potential handful if he makes his debut on Sunday.
“He’s a massive kick target and a big human out on the edges. Hopefully he has another week off,” he said.
Folau has been training with his new teammates all week and although he has not played any kind of rugby for 10 months, the Dragons are short of outside backs.
Meanwhile, Wakefield are to hold a celebration of inclusivity when the Catalans visit Belle Vue, with or without Folau, who Tweeted that “hell awaits” gay people.
Wigan have also declared a Pride Day when the Dragons visit to the DW Stadium on March 22 and Trinity chief executive Michael Carter says his club are engaging with LGBT groups in the run up to Sunday’s fixture.
“We’re not trying to just ride a LGBT bandwagon, we already had our PDRL (Physical Disability RL) and LDRL (Learning Disability RL) and ladies teams coming down any way,” Carter said.
“We’re saying anybody who wants to come down and celebrate the inclusivity of our sport would be very, very welcome.
“What I don’t want to do is turn it into some kind of witch-hunt against an individual because then you will always get somebody who takes it too far.”
UKRL
Roar Rookie
Funny how clipper seems to show so much interest in UK Rugby League. Hey clipper, where is the AFL in the UK?? Oh that's right, nobody in the UK cares, follows or watches AFL do they. :laughing:
Rube
Guest
Too busy breeding fags!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Just when I can’t believe how ignorant you are Jacko, you manage to exceed yourself
The Barry
Roar Guru
So all psychology is out the window...? What someone experiences in their life has no bearing on the person they become? It’s all in their DNA? I think you need to keep reading Your questions about child molesters and drug addicts and choice are so far removed from anything I’ve said on the subject that I genuinely can’t respond. You’re asking me to defend a position I’ve never held...at no point have I said anything that remotely implies that people choose to be child monsters or drug addicts
Jacko
Guest
Barry you need to dig deeper into the studies done in this area. I have and i understood what the Scientific evidence said. Tell me why any human would choose to be a child molester if thats not what was their sexual preferences? Why would someone chose to become a drug addict? Your theory about choice is not only proven to be wrong but it has no logic to it.
Nambawan
Roar Rookie
Read what you like according to your own biases. I just state what I believe is the likely reality in those sporting communities who just wish to watch football un bothered by hysterical bleatings from a very loud minority dedicated to pushing their own pet agendas.
aussierad
Roar Rookie
Exactly. Uncle and Auntie Kearney would never go to that match.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don’t even know how to respond to this...you clearly misunderstand / misinterpret / misrepresent so much of what you’ve read or overheard Not your fault I guess...it’s your DNA It’s ridiculous to suggest that Folau isn’t really responsible for his comments...to imply that his DNA somehow predetermined these comments or predetermine his religion is naive and misinformed to the point of being laughable I fully agree that Folau is allowed to have these beliefs and live his life in accordance with them...but if anyone believes that, they have to believe that an employer or sports organisation is allowed the same freedom to not have someone with those beliefs represent their organisation. Anything less is hypocritical
Jacko
Guest
Sorry Barry but why is sexual preference not a choice but drug dependency is a choice? Its been proven that all addicts have a certain GENE so that throws you "Choice' thoughts out the window and scientists are now saying the sexual preference is not a choice.....Including pedafiles, Beastiality, Necrophilia and many other majorly unacceptable sexual practices so this "Choice" you say exists just doesnt.....What reason would someone have to CHOOSE to be a drug or alcohol addict? To be a pedaphile? It makes no sense whatsoever. Science says our DNA decides who we are and upbringing can play a part in shaping future actions...EG someone abused for many years can become abusive even if its not part of their DNA, but in general "you are who you are born as" so if you want to be 100% correct about all this then Folau has no more choice about who he is than anyone from the LBGTQA community does. This is why Whilst I dont think like he does I do accept that he is allowed to live the lifestyle of his choice like all others are...Within legal requirements
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Albanese is a Souths fan and there’s no chance of him turning into a sociopath if he becomes our next PM. Or is this some sort of joke?
Nico
Roar Rookie
'Gee its good to see the footy back even if it is only on the other side of the world.' - how good is it! The 0 on the end of that scoreline is pretty significant, definitely been a while since St Helens kept to nought. Their best hope coming into the wcc is that Roosters will be coming in with next to no match fitness behind them for 2020, not to mention the chilly north England conditions playing into Saints' favour
Walter White
Guest
Probably of more significance was Warrington's thrashing of St Helens. Saints were last year's runaway success story that few teams managed to beat so to get nilled by the team that lost to Wigan last week is quite something. Saints certainly aren't going to trouble the Roosters in the WCC on that showing. Gee its good to see the footy back even if it is only on the other side of the world.
Nico
Roar Rookie
I nearly forgot there's a game of footy between Wakefield and Catalans on top of everything else. Here's how it's shaping up. On the field the focus will be more on whether Wakefield can muzzle Jimmy Maloney from reproducing his best form from the NRL. Both sides will be pretty desperate to get a first win for 2020 under their belts after round 1 trouncings. Wakefield narrowly avoided relegation last season with a second last round defeat of the celler dwelling London Broncos. Nevertheless the Wildcats proved a more formidable opponent at home winning 7 2019 fixtures there. This match also heralds the home return of Tom Johnstone on the wing, a talented prospect who has managed 67 tries in just 81 appearances, whose last couple of seasons have been ended prematurely by injury. Catalans Dragons endured a disastrous end to 2019 and have since lost 6 matches on the trot, particularly struggling on the road. Aside from 'Izzie going to play or not' it's a side brimming with talent including James Maloney, Sam Kasiano, David Mead and Josh Drinkwater, brother of NQLD's Scott. The question is whether Maloney is able to guide his side around the park after a timid opening round in which he was outshone by fellow expat Aiden Sezer. Wakefield in a close one for mine
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Stalin and Mao together killed more people than anything or anybody in history. Good old leftists.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sorry mate - it can be hard to pick up sarcasm in the written word. My bad
Walter White
Guest
It was said tongue in cheek Barry, clearly my jest backfired.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Do you really not see the difference? Alcoholism is a disease but at some point someone makes a choice to take a drink. Adulterers have complete control of their actions as do fornicators and all the others on Folau’s made up list Gay people don’t make a choice I think it’s bad enough suggesting that something someone does earns them eternal damnation, but to suggest someone deserves it because of who they are is next level
Rob
Guest
Probably talking about a large majority of players in professional sport as well as general society. Filou would probably repent his own sins frequently as that’s how it works with religion. You are expected to repent for making certain choices that everyone bar maybe Jesus himself. Actually I believe Jesus actually asked for forgiveness? God doesn’t discriminate from my understanding, we’re all sinners.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Well the people I know in the north of England wouldn’t go to a match where he was playing. There you go. It just evened out.
Walter White
Guest
I doubt that Izzy is very unpopular in the north of England. The people there that I know are more likely to turn out to watch him play because of all the controversy and wouldn't give a fig about what he tweeted. Most would disagree with his views but I think very few would be put off going to a match because of that.