Chook Norris
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Folau's Origin career looks over
Israel Folau's switch to AFL will come at a heavy price with Queensland poised to dump the rugby league defector from State of Origin.
The Queensland Rugby League wants to send a clear message to any players contemplating swapping codes that they can forget about being part of the showpiece event.
Folau signed a four-year deal worth a reported $6 million with new AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney on Tuesday which should soften the blow of learning his Origin days are over.
QRL managing director Ross Livermore left little doubt on Tuesday as to how Folau's code change would be treated at the selection table on Monday week when the Maroons name their side for Origin II.
Queensland are on the brink of a fifth straight series win - a run of success in which Folau has played a key role - but it appears his unavailability for potentially more success will lead to his snubbing.
"When the selectors sit down to select a team, whether it be Queensland or Australia, they look at the value of the players, whether they are in form, whether they are going to be here for the future, what they've offered to the state," Livermore told reporters on Tuesday.
"Our players are very loyal, the ones who have delivered before. What they've (selectors]) got to look at is the big picture as well if a person is not going to be around for the big picture, that makes it very difficult to select such a player.
"I'm saying to the selectors that we would prefer you to consider players that are going to be here for the long haul."
Asked directly if Folau had played his sixth and final game for the Maroons, Livermore said: "I would think so."
Folau said he was still keen to play for the Maroons in the final two matches of this year's series, but it seems even he was resigned to the fact his representative rugby league career was over.
"That's entirely not in my hands - that's up to Queensland selectors and also Mal (coach Mal Meninga)," Folau said.
"If I do happen to get selected I promise that I'll give 110 per cent to the Queensland side and even the rest of the year for the Broncos, but I'll leave that up to selectors."
Meninga, who met with Livermore, is understood to be supportive of his tough stance.
Queensland selectors, Des Morris, Gene Miles and Alan Smith will be given the same message after Morris said "our charter is to pick the best Queensland team possible".
"I would think, and I think the coach would be of the same view, they would prefer to have someone around for the long-term," Livermore said.
"I would expect they would because they wouldn't be selectors if they didn't."
Warriors speedster Brent Tate looms at Folau's replacement ahead of Lote Tuqiri.
"It could be Brent Tate, it could be Lote Tuqiri. Who's been loyal out of those two to the game, who's in form?," said Livermore.
NRL chief executive David Gallop admitted a decision on Folau's representative future was up to Queensland selectors, but he distanced himself from claims the 21-year-old was a traitor.
"He's made a big decision and he's made a very potentially lucrative decision," Gallop said.
"Obviously there will be people involved in his development from when he first started playing junior rugby league that invested a lot of time and money in him and they would be disappointed today.
"It's not something that we are going to enjoy seeing him go, but it's not a blow, it's more very disappointing."
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/folaus-origin-career-looks-over-20100601-wv34.html
Israel Folau's switch to AFL will come at a heavy price with Queensland poised to dump the rugby league defector from State of Origin.
The Queensland Rugby League wants to send a clear message to any players contemplating swapping codes that they can forget about being part of the showpiece event.
Folau signed a four-year deal worth a reported $6 million with new AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney on Tuesday which should soften the blow of learning his Origin days are over.
QRL managing director Ross Livermore left little doubt on Tuesday as to how Folau's code change would be treated at the selection table on Monday week when the Maroons name their side for Origin II.
Queensland are on the brink of a fifth straight series win - a run of success in which Folau has played a key role - but it appears his unavailability for potentially more success will lead to his snubbing.
"When the selectors sit down to select a team, whether it be Queensland or Australia, they look at the value of the players, whether they are in form, whether they are going to be here for the future, what they've offered to the state," Livermore told reporters on Tuesday.
"Our players are very loyal, the ones who have delivered before. What they've (selectors]) got to look at is the big picture as well if a person is not going to be around for the big picture, that makes it very difficult to select such a player.
"I'm saying to the selectors that we would prefer you to consider players that are going to be here for the long haul."
Asked directly if Folau had played his sixth and final game for the Maroons, Livermore said: "I would think so."
Folau said he was still keen to play for the Maroons in the final two matches of this year's series, but it seems even he was resigned to the fact his representative rugby league career was over.
"That's entirely not in my hands - that's up to Queensland selectors and also Mal (coach Mal Meninga)," Folau said.
"If I do happen to get selected I promise that I'll give 110 per cent to the Queensland side and even the rest of the year for the Broncos, but I'll leave that up to selectors."
Meninga, who met with Livermore, is understood to be supportive of his tough stance.
Queensland selectors, Des Morris, Gene Miles and Alan Smith will be given the same message after Morris said "our charter is to pick the best Queensland team possible".
"I would think, and I think the coach would be of the same view, they would prefer to have someone around for the long-term," Livermore said.
"I would expect they would because they wouldn't be selectors if they didn't."
Warriors speedster Brent Tate looms at Folau's replacement ahead of Lote Tuqiri.
"It could be Brent Tate, it could be Lote Tuqiri. Who's been loyal out of those two to the game, who's in form?," said Livermore.
NRL chief executive David Gallop admitted a decision on Folau's representative future was up to Queensland selectors, but he distanced himself from claims the 21-year-old was a traitor.
"He's made a big decision and he's made a very potentially lucrative decision," Gallop said.
"Obviously there will be people involved in his development from when he first started playing junior rugby league that invested a lot of time and money in him and they would be disappointed today.
"It's not something that we are going to enjoy seeing him go, but it's not a blow, it's more very disappointing."
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/folaus-origin-career-looks-over-20100601-wv34.html
