Johns would welcome Folau back to NRL
Rugby league icon Andrew Johns says he ‘‘wouldn’t have a problem’’ if Israel Folau returned to the NRL.
Johns, who was named the eighth rugby league Immortal in 2012, made the comments as Folau fights for his career after being issued with a ‘‘high level’’ breach of contract notice from Rugby Australia following a series of homophobic social media posts.
Folau declared that hell awaits ‘‘drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters’’, a year after sharing similar posts on social media.
Australian Rugby League chairman Peter Beattie has already said it will officially deny the cross-code star a return.
But Johns was open to the idea of Folau making a return to the arena where his professional sports career began.
‘‘I wasn’t offended, personally, I couldn’t care less what Israel’s beliefs are,’’ Johns told Nine’s Wide World Of Sports.
‘‘If he does leave rugby union, I wouldn’t have a problem if he came back to rugby league,’’ Johns said.
Kiwis and West Tigers halfback Benji Marshall was another who could see no way back to the NRL for Folau.
But while Johns would welcome a Folau return he believes there is ‘‘no chance’’ of it happening.
The code-hopping Folau played almost 100 games for the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm between 2007-2010.
Folau, who also made five State of Origin appearances for Queensland and earned eight caps for the Kangaroos, also had a stint playing in the AFL with the Greater Western Sydney Giants.
He began his rugby career in 2013 and quickly became one of the biggest stars in the Australian game when playing for the Waratahs and Wallabies.
‘‘I don’t think he’d make it straight away. I think it would be about 12 months before he came up to speed,’’ Johns said of a possible NRL return. ‘‘In the position Israel plays, he couldn’t play fullback, he’s not fit enough to play fullback the way they play these days. At the back they organise so much.’’
The former Australian test halfback said Folau would have to accept a much-reduced pay cheque from his rich RA deal – reported to worth more than NZ$1 million.
‘‘I think he’d be a centre and to pay a centre over a million dollars it’s a hell of a lot of money,’’ Johns said.
❚ Long time team-mate Bernard Foley says Israel Folau has hurt the NSW Waratahs — but isn’t a bad guy.
Foley has played alongside him for the Waratahs and Wallabies since the 2013 season.
‘‘I think he’s hurt the team which is not what we’re doing and not why we play sport. We’re a team and we encourage diversity.
‘‘I also don’t think Izzy is a bad guy, so there’s a lot if conflict there, but I don’t agree with what he’s done so it’s a tough situation.’’
Questioned about how Folau was hurting the Waratahs, Foley said: ‘‘We’re not talking about a game, we’re not talking about the match, which we should be.’’
If Folau is allowed back into the Waratahs fold Foley hopes they can talk to him to try and understand the choices he has made,.
‘‘That’s something that we would do, is sit down and talk to him about the rules of the team and how the team has to come first for all players,’’ Foley said.
‘‘Because that’s why we play the game, it’s not just individuals who win games.’’