Folau overshadows SBW
Any publicity is good publicity, as the saying goes, but that is about to be put to the ultimate test in the Super League following Israel Folau’s return to the 13-man code.
On the back of Sonny Bill Williams’ arrival and the emergence of his new Canadian club, the Toronto Wolfpack, this was shaping as the most anticipated Super League season in years.
But the controversy surrounding Folau’s one-year deal with the Catalans Dragons, announced just two days before the start of the season, threatens to overshadow all of that.
In terms of public opinion, it matters little that Folau has promised to keep his religious views to himself, or that he has a virtual gag order written into his contract with the French club.
The damage was done by his infamous Instagram post that warned hell awaits homosexuals, not to mention linking the bushfires and droughts in Australia as punishment for the country’s same-sex and abortion laws.
Folau, who was a household name in rugby league before switching codes, was sacked by Rugby Australia last May before reaching a settlement following a lengthy legal dispute.
That saga virtually engulfed the entire rugby season across the Tasman – and condemnation of his signing in the Super League has been swift.
Wakefield Trinity chief executive Michael Carter was adamant Folau’s registration, along with his ‘‘abhorrent’’ views, should have been refused, while Wigan’s decision to promote their game against Catalans as ‘Pride Day’, in support of the LGBTQ+ community, was widely praised by fans on social media.
Halifax prop Keegan Hirst, Super League’s first openly gay player, slammed the decision to open the door for Folau as ‘‘showing no moral courage’’.
The Rugby Football League, the sport’s governing body in the UK which approved the move, and Super League both issued statements saying they deplored Folau’s previous comments.
But the explanation that there was no legal recourse to oppose the move seems weak compared to the NRL’s stance, which immediately shut the door on Folau’s possible return last year, with no club willing to test that position.
The Super League doesn’t carry the same profile in the UK as the Wallabies or NRL does in Australia, so there may well be a view that the storm will blow over after a few weeks.
Try telling that to club bosses in the north of England fearful Folau’s arrival could cause significant PR damage as they look to extend a £40 million-a-year TV rights contract, which is entering its penultimate season.
After struggling to stay relevant in recent years, with a number of leading English players heading Down Under and few making the trip back to fill the gap, Williams’ signing signalled somewhat of a rebirth for the Super League. His recruitment on a record two-year deal generated huge interest well beyond the competition’s traditional borders.
And beneath Williams, the signing of several other stars from the NRL, such as leading playmaker James Maloney and England internationals Gareth Widdop and George Burgess, provided more reason for optimism.
How Folau’s arrival affects that in the long run remains to be seen. But at this point, it feels like the game’s hierarchy have fumbled the kick-off.