Folau the hero of western SydneyWhat a brave and original piece of recruitment we have seen this week from the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) AFL franchise. In a move not seen since Karmichael Hunt signed for the new Gold Coast franchise, the brains trust at GWS have put their club in the strongest possible position by signing rugby league star Israel Folau to a multi-million dollar four-year deal.
The logic behind the Hunt and Folau signings is simple and beyond question. If you want to give an area its own team in a competition it has previously shown little interest in, the best way to win the hearts and minds of the locals is to sign a local player, currently playing in a code that they do love. The ability of that player to play the new sport is apparently irrelevant when compared to the immeasurable power of the locals knowing his face and name.
Folau grew up in Minto, a battling suburb which falls within the sweeping boundaries of western Sydney. His parents moved to Brisbane when he was in his early teens and there his rugby league talents became patently evident. Playing his first senior football north of the Tweed River meant Folau was destined to pull on a maroon-coloured jersey come State of Origin time.
In 2007, Folau made his NRL debut on the wing for Melbourne Storm as a raw 17-year-old. He went on to collect the Dally M rookie of the year award, a premiership ring, and a Test cap that year before making his Queensland debut the following season. Folau left Melbourne at the end of 2008 to return to Brisbane, citing religious and family reasons. It had nothing to do with the money on offer at the Broncos; clearly the Storm would have had no trouble squeezing him under their ever-expanding two-tier salary cap system.
Folau signed with the Broncos for two years with an option for a further two. Towards the end of the first year his name was being mentioned whenever there was talk of code jumping. All managers do it these days, talking up the value of their clients by citing interest from French rugby, English Super League, NASA, Cricket Australia and anyone else who might have enough money to throw around. Up until several weeks ago, the mail was strong that Folau would head back to Melbourne to be the marquee player at the new Super15 rugby union franchise, but in the end the AFL won.
The important thing to remember in looking at why GWS went so hard to win Folau's signature is his appeal to the people of western Sydney – the people who GWS need through the gates in order to survive. Apart from his extended family, and a few Minto neighbours who remember him as a happy and friendly child, the people of the greater western Sydney area see Folau as a Queenslander who played for the salary cap cheating Storm and then joined Brisbane Broncos. A young man who after playing a big part in Queensland's recent State of Origin dominance, has turned his back on their game all for the challenge of tackling this completely different game.
The plan can't fail. I can see the kids now, lining up at Blacktown Rebel Sports to trade in their Queensland Origin jerseys with Folau's name across the shoulder for GWS jumpers with Folau's number on them. Parramatta kids tossing their fluoro yellow Jarryd Hayne boots in the bin in favour of the boots Folau chooses for his AFL debut. Kids out Penrith way discarding their Broncos scarves and beanies, a tide of kids and their parents rolling up to see Folau weave his magic with the Sherrin.
Some are suggesting that the millions of dollars spent on Folau would have been better used in encouraging local juniors into the wonderful game of Australian Rules. But as the great Kevin Sheedy pointed out in the press conference, the path to being an elite AFL player can be varied. What better way to excite the youth of western Sydney? Through Folau's example, they will see they can continue playing the game they love in the hope of one day being swept up by a cashed-up AFL expansion club. Just like the Minto boy made good, when that day comes, they will have earned riches beyond their dreams.
