Israel Folou to AFL!!

prydey · 31-05-2010, 10:32 PM

just watching 'one week at a time' and apparently the official announcement is due tomorrow.

i watched the nrl footy show last week and they spoke to him then and he was a bit cagey about his future.

hmm, i can see this upsetting a lot of people. arguably one of the best in nrl and is chasing the coin to change codes, following in the footsteps of K.hunt.

poaching these players and then paying them more than any of the current afl stars doesn't sit to well with me but good luck to them. be interesting to see how they cope, going from being a star, to just another player. of course there is the chance that they may be a star afl player too.

Eleanor · 31-05-2010, 10:37 PM

Good luck to the him

. All I can say is that there is very little loyalty anymore. That died in the Superleague fiasco of the 90's.

aye you · 31-05-2010, 10:44 PM

more proof that david gallop and his salary cap needs to go!

Zed7fiddy · 31-05-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aye you

more proof that david gallop and his salary cap needs to go!

x2

these guys can get a whole lot more coin in europe / japan / union / AFL i dotn blame them for changing!

NRL looses so much talent!

aye you · 31-05-2010, 10:47 PM

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugb...0531-wrim.html

Confirmed

Cam · 31-05-2010, 10:48 PM

There's no loyalty, it's a job. People change jobs all the time for more money..

prydey · 31-05-2010, 10:49 PM

its not actually official, but s.quartermain spoke as though it was. official announcement due tomorrow apparently.

they alleged he has signed for the new greater western sydney club at $1m a season. seems the nrl can't compete with that.

JC · 31-05-2010, 10:53 PM

He's a sportsman, so he should choose what sport he wants. A few of the Oz cricket team are scratch golfers - I'm sure they could switch if they wanted to become pro (with a bit of practice, of course). If Folou is bored with NRL (and who'd blame him), then maybe AFL is the new challenge he needs.

saber · 01-06-2010, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

He's a sportsman, so he should choose what sport he wants.

Tell that to Scott Draper. He's an aussie pro tennis player, as well as a pro golfer!!!

EDIT: Just read his wiki page, turns out is a prod bowls player as well! He's apparantly a national champion

vztrt · 01-06-2010, 08:23 AM

That's an expensive $4.2 million ad.

RG · 01-06-2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

That's an expensive $4.2 million ad.

No, it's brilliant marketing.

With Sheeds at the helm GWS will at least make an impact.

Rodp · 01-06-2010, 08:53 AM

If I was an AFL player, I'd be a little peeved that some guy can come from the NRL and automatically claim a much higher salary than me without one ounce of proof he's actually capable of playing the game.

Don't understand all the poaching but I don't blame the player chasing the money, though I think the whole lot of them are grossly overpaid.

vztrt · 01-06-2010, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RG

No, it's brilliant marketing.

With Sheeds at the helm GWS will at least make an impact.

Yeah they might be able to beat Richmond if they keep buying like that.

fairBA · 01-06-2010, 01:07 PM

Whats wrong with AFL - Don't you guys have junior programs?
Makes AFL look easy, how hard can it be if these guys can just switch??
(this is not my option but the thoughts of NRL fan workmates)

RG · 01-06-2010, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairBA

Whats wrong with AFL - Don't you guys have junior programs?
Makes AFL look easy, how hard can it be if these guys can just switch??
(this is not my option but the thoughts of NRL fan workmates)

Heaps of juniors.

Tell your NRL workmates that maybe the reason these two are leaving is because they want to earn decent money and have a bit of a challenge. NRL is obviously too easy and boring for them.

Fab · 01-06-2010, 02:04 PM

Confirmed on Fox Sports news.
4 year deal.

CFOUR · 01-06-2010, 02:12 PM

I for one have always referred to AFL as GayFL (Even though my father played for Richmond in his youth) but for $1 000 000 a year I'd abandon League (My favorite team sport) and don the short shorts in a heartbeat. Its un-Australian to hate somebody for getting paid. Its not like he's said bad things about league.

Johndec · 01-06-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFOUR

I for one have always referred to AFL as GayFL

Best one I heard/read recently was from James Courtney who referred to AFL as "netball for blokes"...

CFOUR · 01-06-2010, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johndec

Best one I heard/read recently was from James Courtney who referred to AFL as "netball for blokes"...

hahahahaha Nice one. that seriously made my day, take that netball and afl.

**Polyal** · 01-06-2010, 03:04 PM

Comments like the above are the reasons why the AFL are "poaching" players, to try and sway as many NRL knunckleheads as they can; if it takes getting the big names from over there then too bad NRL.

When NRL can get numbers to a game that represent something like a AfL training session then you can complain.

As for the amount of money, its also going to put ALOT of pressure on the guy to perform to the same level as others on the same amount, which he and any others crossing wont.

It will be interesting to watch their progress.

irlewy86 · 01-06-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johndec

Best one I heard/read recently was from James Courtney who referred to AFL as "netball for blokes"...

Says the man who likes ballroom dancing.

Isreal Folau's deal will be a 200k base with performance bonus's. But trust me, he'll be lucky to make a million in a season.

I bet these boys are only defecting so they know what its like to play a game that draws a crowd through the gates each week.

I'm also having a hearty laugh at all the League guys having a sook about defectors. Didn't they all defect from Union in the first place.

BOSHOG · 01-06-2010, 03:53 PM

AFL, the only sport where you get a point for missing

irlewy86 · 01-06-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOSHOG

AFL, the only sport where you get a point for missing

Rugby league, the numbers on the back are actually IQ scores

RG · 01-06-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOSHOG

AFL, the only sport where you get a point for missing

NRL, where there's more people on the field than in the crowd.

Grippy · 01-06-2010, 04:17 PM

Im pumped to see what he can do on an AFL field, what is he 21 or turning 21 this year? Plenty of time to get him up to speed in AFL and the guys physique is amazing, wonder how his endurance is compared to current AFL players?

CFOUR · 01-06-2010, 04:57 PM

I thought I would clarify my stance on AFL and switching codes a little further seeing as this thread is relating to switching codes not AFL vs League

My School Rugby league team (multi time champions) which I was a part of was chosen to be a part of aus-kick (AFL for kids) and the entirety of our league team was trained over a couple of days, by two members of the Brisbane lions (names escape me). We went on to win the south east Queensland Aus-kick championship.

Note:playing Aus-kick did not take away from league time as it was during the off season and by participating we got two school days out of class to train and a few for competition, other wise few of us would have participated.

I can comfortably say having played both codes that switching (at least at a junior level) is not as difficult as most would believe. I can also say that league is both more fun and harder work.

On a similar note one year there weren't enough teams in the competition to play league, so my league team became the schools second soccer team (hey it's not manly but at least we didn't get fat). We ended up doing better than the full time soccer players (and got into a lot of fights). In my Experience Soccer is less fun than AFL. I do however respect the level of spectacle that AFL and Soccer Have Created for themselves and can only hope that the NRL can one day reach those heights. Please dont take comments like GayFL as more than poking fun at NRL's sporting cousin.

I wish Big Izzy good luck in AFL and hope the State of Origin selectors don't give him the cold shoulder when game 2 comes around.

xw383 · 01-06-2010, 05:14 PM

All i can say is good-bye, good luck and him changing codes doesn't make me want to watch AFL anymore than what i do now.

Earning good money by playing sport i don't have a problem with, but when you have to buy a marketing and p.r head from another code doesn't really give your junior players much to strive for does it?

I remember too when Folau wanted to leave Melbourne his excuse was he wanted to be closer to his family. What a load of bull, nothing but a ingrate.

XW 393 · 01-06-2010, 05:21 PM

Good luck to him, might want to start some fitness training though.

sarrge2001 · 01-06-2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Yeah they might be able to beat Richmond if they keep buying like that.

Didn't help Port.....

vztrt · 01-06-2010, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarrge2001

Didn't help Port.....

Maybe they bought a storm player....