Folau scores try for Southport in rugby league return
Israel Folau scored a try for the Southport Tigers in his rugby league comeback on the Gold Coast, saying he was happy to make it through the game unscathed after 10 years out of the code.
The controversial former Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Origin, GWS Giants and Wallabies veteran was the main attraction at Owen Park, where about 700 fans filed in to watch the fullback turn out for their A-grade side before he takes up a rugby contract in Japan in September.
Israel Folau thanks fans after the match between the Southport Tigers and the Runaway Bay Seagulls on Saturday.Credit:Getty
Some diehard fans brought signs to the game and waved them from the hill but not everyone was an instant fan. One man stood on halfway and implored Folau to “do something!” for most of the night. When Folau scored, the vocal patron claimed credit for getting him involved in the contest.
Folau said he wanted to play in the third tier competition to fulfil a dream to compete alongside brothers John and Eni. Southport beat Runaway Bay 38-28 to ensure the family had something to celebrate.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play at the highest level across three different codes but I’ve never got the opportunity to play alongside my brothers. It brings me back to childhood memories, playing in the backyard,” Folau said.
“It’s always nice to get a meat pie [try] but it was nice to blow the cobwebs out and get through the game.”
Israel Folau on the charge for the Tigers at Owen Park on the Gold Coast.Credit:Getty
The comeback had been heavily advertised by Folau’s backer, mining magnate Clive Palmer, in the preceding week but the anticipated huge crowd didn’t quite eventuate.
It takes all shapes and sizes in third-tier football so Folau was easy to spot as he strode out at fullback. He still has the physique of an Olympic 400m runner and this level looked as if it would be easy pickings for him.
He almost scored with his first touch as the Tigers enjoyed early domination. He skipped into the back line, shred a few tackles but was caught short of the line. From there, his involvements were thin on the ground as the pace fell out of the game.
Runaway Bay had no issues kicking in his direction and he was handled with relative ease during most of his returns in the first half. Folau almost helped himself to a customary try from a kick, clearing the pack to get the ball only to be held up.
He looked a little more at ease in the second half, even though he passed a few times when he clearly should have taken on the line. When he eventually did, he beat three defenders to dive over out wide and help the Tigers secure an easy victory.
Folau’s path back to rugby league has been troublesome. He was sacked by the Wallabies in 2019 for a series of homophobic social media posts, rendering himself borderline unemployable in the process.
He was shopped around to a host of NRL clubs but head office never had any real appetite to facilitate his return. He went overseas to play for Catalans Dragons in the Super League, where he was granted compassionate leave on the proviso he would return to see out his contract.
That all became a sticking point, with the QRL refusing to register him for its lower leagues unless he could be find a way out of his deal in France. With Palmer helping on that front, Folau was finally free to suit up and play with his brothers in the local Gold Coast competition.
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