Folau magic seals Catalan comeback
ISRAEL FOLAU was a bit-part player in his first Super League appearance in England as his Catalan Dragons pulled off a famous comeback victory.
But the high-profile Australian centre’s one moment of magic was crucial in the visitors’ unlikely success.
Folau’s brilliant one-handed take of James Maloney’s short restart two minutes from time was key to Maloney touching down moments later to complete Catalan’s great escape.
The Perpignan side hit back to win from being 28-10 down in the final quarter.
Coach Steve McNamara said of Folau: “Izzy was solid without being spectacular, but he did come up with a really big play to give us a last chance. We underused him but it was a special catch.”
Much had been made of dual code international Folau’s return to England for the first time since a two-try show for the Wallabies in 2018. But the 30-year-old, whose social media post that “hell awaits” gay people has made him a despised figure, hardly had to run a gauntlet of hate.
A number of rainbow, gay rights’ flags were waved by home fans before kick-off, including from members of the city’s first inclusive male rugby team. There were also ripples of boos when Folau took his first pass.
But there was no animosity towards him on the pitch. He was congratulated and embraced by several Hull FC stars, including two-try winger Mahe Fonua, after the final hooter.
Home fans were more dismayed by the final result and a third successive defeat. Fonua’s double and further touchdowns from Carlos Tuimavave, Jamie Shaul and Manu Ma’u, plus four Marc
Sneyd goals, had 18-point cushion.
That lead was wiped out in nine minutes as Ben Jullien, Josh Drinkwater and Samisoni Langi crossed, and Maloney kicked a hat-trick of conversions.
Sneyd’s 40-metre drop-goal edged Hull back in front, only for Folau to snatch that restart to launch a brilliant Dragons’ reply.
McNamara said: “Before the game we were well planned and organised, but we never gave ourselves a chance for 50 minutes.
“When we were 18 behind we went to what we should have been doing and scored some nice tries.”
Hull boss Lee Radford said: “I thought we had done enough to win the game twice.”
Of Folau’s inspirational moment, he said: “Unfortunately, we don’t have anyone in our team who can jump that high.”
HULL FC – Tries: Fonua 2, Tuimavave,
Goals: Sneyd 4. DG: Sneyd.
CATALANS – Tries: Jullien 2, Yaha, Drinkwater, Langi, Maloney. Goals: Maloney 5. given
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