NRL superstar Israel Folau has made the stunning admission that he hopes the AFL succeeds in its battle to win over rugby league fans in Sydney's west.
The representative winger, a product of Sydney's south-west, went against the script on Monday when he gave the AFL an unexpected free kick at a coaching clinic attended by the NRL All Stars at Blacktown.
The AFL has been aggressively targetting Sydney's west ahead of Team GWS's entry into the national competition in 2012.
The support for a rival code from one of the game's biggest names clearly caught NRL chief executive David Gallop off guard.
"It will probably take a bit of time (but) I certainly hope they (the AFL) can make a few inroads however long it takes," Folau said.
"I hope it goes well for them."
"Rugby league is really big in western Sydney and I'd like to see a bit of a change and see how that goes."
"I'd certainly like to see the league game stay up there but for a little bit of change I want to see AFL get a bit of (a foothold) out there."
Told of Folau's support for AFL, a stunned Gallop responded: "(It's) a surprising comment."
"I'm not sure what he meant by that. They are seen as the competition and today is about reminding people we are strong in western Sydney, that it is our heartland."
"I think we can call it the home of the game in many respects but we've got to be conscious that our competitors are trying to get in here and we've got to continue to keep our foot on the pedal."
But rugby league great Brad Fittler, a Penrith junior now working as a development officer in Sydney's west, believes Australians rules will have a major impact on the sporting landscape.
"I think they will (make inroads), there is no doubt," he said.
"They're organised and you can see already Kevin Sheedy is putting a lot of energy into it."
"Numbers alone will allow another organisation to come in. They're organised, they've got a lot of money."
"They want to over-take the world. That's the way they are."
But asked if he feared the AFL invasion, Fittler continued: "No, not really."
"I'm not really fussed about AFL. I like the idea kids are out playing any sport but I really enjoy rugby league out here."
"It's been here a long time and it's here to stay, no doubt."
