NRL convert Israel Folau appears set to retire from Greater Western Sydney

[RWB]

My biggest issue with Folau is the perceived need to play him at centre. He's the best winger in the world and should play there, the back 3 in the modern day game is huge and so undervalued.

The trend of trying to turn every decent winger into a centre/fullback makes no sense to me, good wingers are invaluable.

If he signs with Parra I hope they use him correctly.

 

[Moffo]

This will come across as extreme wank but I know people from work who had a dealing with him earlier this week. They said he had to leave for a few hours to work out contracts so expect something to become official very soon

 

[WayneBennett]

it did come across as an extreme wank, but a credible wank nonetheless

 

[El Diablo]

i see Neil Cordy is in the DT trying put a positive spin on this for the AFL

he's in denial if he believes what he wrote

 

[ek999]

This will come across as extreme wank but I know people from work who had a dealing with him earlier this week. They said he had to leave for a few hours to work out contracts so expect something to become official very soon

Would be pretty accurate, most clubs will be starting pre-season training soon and they would want him to have a full pre-season to bulk back up and be ready to play league again

 

[Pistol_Pete]

It was always strange why the AFL wanted him. Sure he can catch, but the dopey prick would have been confused about not being able to fall over and put the ball down. Running more than a metre with the ball could also have confused the poor fella. Welcome back Izzy, 18 tries, in which he ran for a cumulative 13 metres, Rugby League salutes the king of the gimme

 

[Canard]

Thinking about it, does anyone believe that a deal would not have already been at least "pencilled" in prior to him announcing his departure from the rival code?

I doubt anyone would walk away from a guaranteed salary unless they had something else prepared already?

I reckon this was sorted out, to an extent, months ago. (pure speculation by me of course)

 

[Hutty1986]

It was always strange why the AFL wanted him. Sure he can catch, but the dopey prick would have been confused about not being able to fall over and put the ball down. Running more than a metre with the ball could also have confused the poor fella. Welcome back Izzy, 18 tries, in which he ran for a cumulative 13 metres, Rugby League salutes the king of the gimme

The first time I have agreed with PP, crazy :crazy:

 

[hineyrulz]

Pretty sure it's a done deal, i'd have let him rot in that abortion of a sport for two more yrs myself.

 

[Tone83]

RWB

My biggest issue with Folau is the perceived need to play him at centre. He's the best winger in the world and should play there, the back 3 in the modern day game is huge and so undervalued.

100% agree, great point. Wingers make or break a team, I don't know why they aren't given more respect, to me they're more important than centres because it will often be their strength and ability deciding whether points go on the board either way. I wince when a team I like has some little ash graham androtop on the wing who you know will be tackled over the sideline where someone like folau would have scored a try. I definitely believe teams lose games on the back of shitty little wingers.
I think the kangaroos should have inglis and folau as the wingers, and maybe the maroons as well. I think inglis is the best player in the world but don't think he's "wasted" on the wing. I think solidity in wingers is vitally important.
I honestly just think halves are the ones who have retired to become commentators in the media and they've perpetuated this view that halves are the most important thing and then as you get out to the wing things get less and less important. I don't believe it at all. To me a half just needs to pass it to someone better who can actually run and break tackles as soon as possible. Centres are then important but not as important as wingers. Fullback is probably the most important position.

 

[Canard]

RWB

100% agree, great point. Wingers make or break a team, I don't know why they aren't given more respect, to me they're more important than centres because it will often be their strength and ability deciding whether points go on the board either way. I wince when a team I like has some little ash graham androtop on the wing who you know will be tackled over the sideline where someone like folau would have scored a try. I definitely believe teams lose games on the back of shitty little wingers.
I think the kangaroos should have inglis and folau as the wingers, and maybe the maroons as well. I think inglis is the best player in the world but don't think he's "wasted" on the wing. I think solidity in wingers is vitally important.
I honestly just think halves are the ones who have retired to become commentators in the media and they've perpetuated this view that halves are the most important thing and then as you get out to the wing things get less and less important. I don't believe it at all. To me a half just needs to pass it to someone better who can actually run and break tackles as soon as possible. Centres are then important but not as important as wingers. Fullback is probably the most important position.

Thats a unique perspective on Rugby League.

 

[ek999]

RWB

100% agree, great point. Wingers make or break a team, I don't know why they aren't given more respect, to me they're more important than centres because it will often be their strength and ability deciding whether points go on the board either way. I wince when a team I like has some little ash graham androtop on the wing who you know will be tackled over the sideline where someone like folau would have scored a try. I definitely believe teams lose games on the back of shitty little wingers.
I think the kangaroos should have inglis and folau as the wingers, and maybe the maroons as well. I think inglis is the best player in the world but don't think he's "wasted" on the wing. I think solidity in wingers is vitally important.
I honestly just think halves are the ones who have retired to become commentators in the media and they've perpetuated this view that halves are the most important thing and then as you get out to the wing things get less and less important. I don't believe it at all. To me a half just needs to pass it to someone better who can actually run and break tackles as soon as possible. Centres are then important but not as important as wingers. Fullback is probably the most important position.

Lol at halves not being important. Name one team that has won a competition without at least one decent half. Plenty of teams have won competitions without massive wingers. Wingers in this years grand final were Mahe Fonua (100kg), Justin O'Neill (92kg), Sam Perrett (92kg) and Jono Wright (98kg) - none of them are massive.

And wasn't Ash Graham the equal leading try scorer this year

 

[butchmcdick]

Lol at halves not being important. Name one team that has won a competition without at least one decent half. Plenty of teams have won competitions without massive wingers. Wingers in this years grand final were Mahe Fonua (100kg), Justin O'Neill (92kg), Sam Perrett (92kg) and Jono Wright (98kg) - none of them are massive.

And wasn't Ash Graham the equal leading try scorer this year

It helps that he is running off passes from Bowen and Thurston

 

[Fathead]

In relation to the eels, the may well bethe dark horse for next year. It's not that they have signed izzy or some decent players it's because they have signed what I believe to be the best back room staff in the comp. CEO ken Edwards is a proven professional, Peter Nolan will continue to prove his worth as the best recruitment manager, Matt parish and dean pay join Stuart as the coaching staff and to top it all off, will Badel, the best video analysis joins from manly. Trent elkin comes from the sharks as fitness manager.
Add to that a massive recruitment and junior base.
Sticky has been given the cash to assemble who he wants and he has assembled the very best.
The eels will not win next year but i can assure you, they will not win the spoon for many a long years and my prediction is that they will be one of the top three teams in the next 2 or 3 years.

 

[Jason Maher]

If they could attract a good hooker they'd almost be a good side Parra. Unfortunately Keating is plain ordinary & I didn't see a whole lot in Nate Smith. Without anyone of note coming through the ranks it's certainly an area they need to improve on.

Don't want to speak for Fourex in regards to Izzy's tenure at the Broncos but there's always been a question of whether the club got it's money's worth on him or not. Rumours of his salary were never confirmed but the reality is we lost a lot of players around the time we signed him & he didn't always play as well as what he could have. Basically, some fans are going to feel like we didn't get the chance to see the best of Folau before AFL threw ridiculous money at him to transfer and feel a little jipped about the whole thing. Understandable, but life rolls on I guess.

As for tries, I've always hated this argument tbh. It's a decent indicator all the same but take Folau's 09 for instance - 7 of those tries were all against the Titans while a number of them were merely consolation tries when the games were practically all over. Kind of like Merritt really.

We have 3 good young hookers. I'm sure Parra will end up throwing massive overs at one of them, assuming the Roosters or Canterbury don't beat them to the punch.

 

[BranVan3000]

My mistake. I thought it was this year they were under the cap, but of course it was last year.

I'll forgive you Jason, it's easy to not pay attention to things related to Pawwa

 

[BranVan3000]

We have 3 good young hookers. I'm sure Parra will end up throwing massive overs at one of them, assuming the Roosters or Canterbury don't beat them to the punch.

I was talking to my mate about the same thing lol. I find it weird Parramatta have found it so hard to get a decent hooker when the Dragons and Souths amongst other teams usually have at least three hookers who could start

 

[Different kind of Rabbit]

If I were sticky...

Folau -> Fullback
Hayne -> 5/8

Folau would make a great fullback. He's as light now as he's ever been and he should have the fitness to run all day, plus he's done nothing but catch high balls for the past two years.

As much as Hayne has looked average at 5/8, I think that Sticky will be able to get the best out of him there. Gotta be better than Roberts there anyway.

If you're going to spend $350 - $500k on a player, you want him to be involved as much as possible. If he plays fullback he'll see a lot more ball than he would in the centres or on the wing.

 

[BranVan3000]

You gotta credit Parra if they nab him though. They have clearly done a superb job of courting him at all levels and weening him away from AFL. From what I've read, players, coaches have been constantly in his ear and being involved with him. Even bringing him on their end of year vacation. Some real smart maneuvering there, and not just for their club, but for the NRL too

 

[some11]

I wince when a team I like has some little ash graham androtop on the wing who you know will be tackled over the sideline where someone like folau would have scored a try.

Cant believe some people were talking up Graham for Origin, he was practically asking for a position in the media :lol: