Broncos resigned to losing Israel Folau to Melbourne Rebels
Karl deKroo From: The Courier-Mail April 28, 2010 12:00AM
THE Brisbane Broncos concede Israel Folau will almost certainly walk out on the club at season's end and could be sacrificing up to $500,000 to stay in rugby league.
The strike centre has until Friday to decide whether he will take up a two-year option to remain at Red Hill.
But Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen admitted he was increasingly nervous about the club's prospects of retaining Folau as he weighed up a huge offer to join fledgling Super rugby franchise the Melbourne Rebels.
"You are always nervous when they haven't signed and if the offer is anywhere near the vicinity of where is being speculated we are obviously going to struggle," Cullen said on Tuesday night.
"It would be very disappointing to lose him. But I am quite sure that Israel hasn't lied to us. When we have spoken to him all the way through I believe he was genuine when he said to us that he loved rugby league and really enjoyed being at the Broncos and wanted to stay.
This offer has come along in the past few days and it will be difficult for him to ignore.
"We understand it is a substantial offer and what do you say to a young kid who has the chance to make quite extraordinary amounts of money at such an early stage of his career?"
It is thought the Rebels offer could be up to $800,000 a season, with the Australian Rugby Union's contribution to be propped up by third-party arrangements.
Following Karmichael Hunt's shock defection to the new AFL side on the Gold Coast last year, the loss of Folau, who has scored six tries in five games this season, would rip a massive hole in the Broncos backline.
Cullen also vehemently denied speculation that Folau's Broncos contract had been supplemented by a $200,000 "off the table" cash injection provided by high-profile supporters group the Thoroughbreds.
"I am quite sure, and I have investigated these rumours, that they are simply not true," Cullen said.
Reds fullback Peter Hynes on Tuesday said he could understand the Rebels' big-money play for Folau.
"He's a big, powerful guy with unbelievable aerial work and he already has the profile in Melbourne," Hynes said.
