Sport Confidential: Francis Molo hires Israel Folau lawyer in fight to exit St George Illawarra
Francis Molo has hired the high-profile solicitor who represented Israel Folau in his stoush with Rugby Australia to deal with his workplace dramas at St George Illawarra.
Francis Molo has hired the same lawyer who took up Israel Folau’s fight with Rugby Australia as the Dragons prepare to slap a transfer fee on the disgruntled prop.
It is understood that Molo has hired Ramy Qutami to deal with his workplace dramas at St George Illawarra Dragons formally offered granted the former Queensland forward permission to talk with rival clubs on Wednesday.
However, it comes with a catch which could make it difficult for Molo to find a new home. It is understood the Dragons will allow Molo to leave provided his new club stump up a transfer fee.
They also want Molo to pay back money he had been paid in advance as well as the money he has been paid since the NRL’s contract year kicked off on November 1. It is unlikely that Molo’s camp will agree to giving money back which has been paid for this season given Molo had trained with the squad up until the end of January. Molo also played for Samoa in England at the end of last year which meant his return date to training was pushed back. He is on sick leave which is due to end next month. Complicating matters for the Dragons is that they need Molo to move on in order to sign David Klemmer to a top 30 spot given the Dragons squad is full.
Molo has two seasons left on a contract worth about $500-600k a season.