Israel Folau has signed with Japanese Top League side NTT Communications in a fresh twist after the sacked Wallabies fullback’s recent attempts to resurrect his rugby league career in Queensland.
With the backing of billionaire businessman Clive Palmer, Folau engaged lawyers to fight his case for a return for Southport in Gold Coast club football, despite failing to receive a contract clearance from French outfit Catalans.
That clearance came last week and a deal with the Top League club, which also announced sacked Waratahs coach Rob Penney as the new director of rugby, followed in a move that has reportedly taken Palmer by surprise.
Folau’s Wallabies career ended following a homophobic social media post that saw his contract torn up in 2019.
A drawn-out legal battle with Rugby Australia followed before he signed with the Catalans Dragons in the UK Super League.
Citing personal reasons, he returned to Australia while still under contract and pushed his case with the QRL for a return.
Folau was set to play for the Southport Tigers last weekend before COVID-19 restrictions put paid to the clash.
The timing of the Japanese season – Folau isn’t due there until September – means he could still feature for the Tigers this year.
It’s understood Folau’s Japan contract is significantly less than his $1 million a season deal with Rugby Australia, while it carries strict clauses relating to his social media activity.
The three-time Wallabies player of the year is eligible to play for the national side again under the Giteau Law – he has played 73 Tests – but it is understood he is not on coach Dave Rennie’s radar.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Class Paulo, wow ???? You got called on some of the rubbish you were trying to claim. Calling me all the names under the sun doesn’t change that. You’re becoming the butt of a few jokes on here now and a caricature of yourself. It might be time to reflect on why.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Class Jacko, wow :laughing: You got called on some of the rubbish you were trying to claim. Calling me all the names under the sun doesn’t change that. You’re becoming the butt of a few jokes on here now and a caricature of yourself. It might be time to reflect on why.
Haha Im NOT your mate. NO PROOF and More weasel words that say nothing. JUST GO AWAY WEASEL MAN!!! So there was NO DECISION eh? Weasel words… You dispute the settlement amount but dont provide any proof. Weasel words… Im not bothering with your crap anymore weasel man
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Mate, it’s pretty clear, call them weasel words all you like, it matters little to me. There was no legal decision in Folaus favour. RA were not found at fault. It was a settlement. It was not a legal decision, regardless of whether it was handled legally. You do understand the difference don’t you? You keep referring to a ‘decision’ - there was none. No one has said it wasn’t settled, people have disputed how much you keep saying it was. The settlement details have not been released. This is why people keep calling you out for saying how much he was paid out, or that his contract was paid out. There, 3 answers for you - lord knows where you came up with those questions though, that was not what we disagreed on. 8itch and moan all you like but it’s pretty clear you’re referring to things in a way no one else is.
Yes the dialogue between Cristo and I was according to you all fine to be used against me when you have zero interest in finding out any history between Christo and myself yet you go ahead and use it against me anyway. So no proof of question 1 paulo? No proof of question 2 paulo? No proof of question 3 pualo? An out of court settlement still has to be legally ratified AND enforced.... I knew the only answers I would get from you would be weasel words with semantics being your whole arguement. Weasel words and semantics....Do you have anything else or is that it? Just answer the questions paulo..
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I’m assuming the insult was your quote I copied? You have said he was legally found to have been unfairly dismissed and RA had to pay out his contract. That’s what you have said, a number of times. There has been no legal decision. It was settled out of court - let’s be clear, an out of court settlement is not a legal decision. The settlement figure has not been disclosed. Reaching an out of court settlement is not the same as paying his contract out. Both parties were forced to apologise. That is all fairly well publicised. That Stuff article I listed for you actually says all that, if you need ‘proof’. I think you have confused an out of court settlement with a legal decision and that a settlement means they paid his contract out. Those are not the same things.
Are you saying its still not legally settled yet? Prove that. Are you saying Folau didnt get a payout? Prove that. Are you saying the settlement details were released? Prove that. You chose to throw in insults so I chose to walk away from the discussion as that had not been part of any previous discussions between you and I but if you are so pathetic that you cant answer the above questions all by yourself after you have come back a number of times to push the issue then you are a pi$$ weak rugby follower. Try google FFS. I look forward to the proof that Folau did not settle and that he received no payout and that there has not been a legal decision. I have claimed all along that he has settled, he has received a payout and it is all done legally. Plus he received an apology from RA. So show me this proof or STFU.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Can you also link me the legal decision you offered to show me the other day and yet have refused? And the settlement details too? You’ve banged on about this decision and this settlement a good number of times and been called out on it numerous times. Happy to be proven wrong in either instance, and think of the satisfaction when you shut us all up? Interesting that Stuff article you linked, also links to this… might be worth a read for you. https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/117953182/israel-folaus-huge-rugby-australia-payout-revealed–report
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Weirdly, past performance as a predictor of future performance appears to be more solid regarding Folau's ability to see out the duration of a contract, than it is for his performance and results on the field of play.
Dally M
Roar Rookie
Yeah, that's not what I was talking about and you know it. I said Izzy "...somehow for some obscure reason, after being sacked by Rugby he has been extremely quiet on social media." To which you replied "No he hasnt. thats total BS. he is as active now as he ever was and the POST is still up….." Still waiting for you to highlight all those social media posts he's made since then...
James584
Roar Rookie
I meant he ‘wasn’t’ changing codes. A typo. I don’t think they would have released him to go back to union is what I mean.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/125684304/israel-folau-to-play-for-first-game-of-rugby-league-in-a-decade
Under the bed. I think the NRL is looking for me. I see Folau makes his league debut this weekend fulfilling his contract as I said he would.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Mate, you keep saying he was ruled to have been unfairly dismissed, you offered to point me to the legal direction, and keep claiming he was laid his contract out. None of that happened. He took a cheque and ran before any legal decision was made and the size of the cheque was never disclosed. Where are you getting your information?
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
i don't
Phantom
Roar Rookie
I doubt they care.
Dally M
Roar Rookie
Jacko? Where you hiding mate?
Dally M
Roar Rookie
Funny how you've been granted access to the exact amount of the settlement. Everyone else have merely speculated as to the amount. Both sides issued apologies.
Minz
Guest
Poor old Izzy, can't read that book he claims to follow, can't read contracts...