Israel Folau agrees to social media backflip to secure $1 million NRL deal

Israel Folau is reportedly happy to tone down his social media activity after it emerged on Tuesday St George was making a move to lure the 31-year-old back to the NRL.

Dragons CEO Ryan Webb confirmed they are chasing Folau as the Sydney Morning Herald reported the club had formally applied to the NRL to sign the dual-code international on a two-year deal.

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Folau hasn’t played in the NRL since leaving the Broncos in 2010 and in 2019 had his contract with Rugby Australia torn up for making homophobic comments on social media, bringing an end to his illustrious Wallabies career.

Folau received a financial settlement after taking legal action against RA as many pundits criticised the governing body for not making Folau sign something agreeing not to post his homophobic views on social media.

Folau’s post saying “hell awaits” gay people is still on his Instagram page, having rejected calls to delete it and refused to sign anything that would control how he expresses his religious beliefs in a public forum.

However, it seems as though the dual-code international is willing to backflip on that stance. According to the Herald, Folau has told Dragons bosses he would be willing to sign a social media clause limiting what he can and can’t say online, if that’s what it took to make a $1 million deal happen and facilitate a return to the NRL.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the governing body would go through the process of reviewing and considering Folau’s application should it land on his desk.

Folau debuted for the Melbourne Storm as a teenager in 2007 before moving north to play two seasons with the Broncos between 2009-2010. The explosive back played five Origins for Queensland and eight Tests for Australia before dropping a bombshell and quitting to play AFL.

A short stint at GWS was followed by a 73-Test run with the Wallabies before his acrimonious break-up with the 15-man code Down Under.

Unable to play rugby in Australia, Folau headed to France to play rugby league for the Catalans Dragons, who compete in the UK Super League. He signed a one-year extension last July to keep him at the club for the 2021 season but with COVID-19 causing havoc around the world, Folau returned to Australia during the summer after his wife Maria gave birth to their first child.

Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) chairman Peter V’landys has said previously Folau’s views on homosexuality are not welcome in the NRL. In October 2019, V’landys poured cold water over the idea of Folau ever returning.

“The game is inclusive. Israel’s comments are not inclusive,” V’landys said then.

“When I was a kid and kids used to get bashed up because they were different, I used to go and defend them. And a lot of them, it’s because their role models or their peers made them that way.

“I have no tolerance for people that put other people’s lives (at risk) or (who commit) violence. It’s a big statement to make. With due respect to Israel, what he says, young kids listen to. He is a role model. They act on it. And when you’re a kid at school and you get bashed up because you’re different, I don’t think that’s a good thing.”

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Will Folau be back playing rugby league in Australia?Source:Getty Images

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