Wallabies Watch

[Inside Shoulder]

Playing for the Wallabies is one thing that could keep Folau in rugby since it's a unique experience that league doesn't have.

Some at his club team think his signing for the Bulldogs is imminent.

 

[qwerty51]

If he signs before the Wallabies season then he shouldn't get picked.

 

[Scott Allen]

Qwerty, I liked your comment and then thought, shouldn't we say "before or during the Wallaby season"

 

[TOCC]

let him sign with the doggies.......

Then give him front row tickets to the Lions series in front of 80'000 screaming fans and let him see firsthand what he missed out on.....

 

[Groucho]

Playing for the Wallabies is one thing that could keep Folau in rugby since it's a unique experience that league doesn't have.

Absolutely, and we should try to keep him. Sending talented people away with angry eyes isn't a good look for our code.

 

[p.Tah]

This from July 2012

According to Triple M's Matty Johns' inside sources, "Israel Folau will be out of his GWS contract by September. They're negotiating a release right now, and next year he will be playing in the NRL in Sydney," Johns said.

"Given the urgency of the Luke Lewis situation, maybe it's the Panthers, but another guy said to me it will be the Bulldogs," Johns continued.

"The Bulldogs are the richest club in the league. they have huge amounts of money. If there is one club that is able to buy Israel Folau (financially alone) it is the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs. It would be a big attraction for Israel."

http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/sp...au-to-bulldogs--thurston-to-panthers-in-2013/

May be they were a year out or they're barking up the wrong tree.

I'll be disappointed if he leaves.

 

[Scoey]

Absolutely, and we should try to keep him. Sending talented people away with angry eyes isn't a good look for our code.

My angry eyes wouldn't be aimed at Israel. If he played in the Lions and then went back to NRL at the end of the year my angry eyes would be aimed squarely at the ARU and the Wallabies selectors.
I don't harbour any ill feelings toward Israel but if he's only playing union as a stop gap measure to get back into League then I've been saying it all along, he shouldn't be considered for the Lions Series. Give the less than once in a career chance to someone who's played union most of their life and who grew up dreaming of playing for the Wallabies.

 

[cyclopath]

Meanwhile, Bret Harris has the scoop so we can all stop debating who'll play 12.

If White goes back to the To'omua/Lealiifano inside-back combination he will have to decide what to do with McCabe, who will almost certainly play inside centre for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions this winter.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...ckline-positions/story-e6frg7o6-1226614454063

 

[Inside Shoulder]

If you make the usual assumptions and let history be your guide, this denial suggests its a done deal
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...t-deny-deal-has-been-done-20130407-2hf04.html

 

[USARugger]

Meanwhile, Bret Harris has the scoop so we can all stop debating who'll play 12.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...ckline-positions/story-e6frg7o6-1226614454063

Piri Weepu, All Black savior of the Highlanders. Some quality journalism here.

 

[Slim 293]

I believe it was also Bret Harris who wrote last week that Deans will select JOC (James O'Connor) at flyhalf.........

 

[Richo]

It wouldn't be the first time Deans made a nonsensical selection.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

My angry eyes wouldn't be aimed at Israel. If he played in the Lions and then went back to NRL at the end of the year my angry eyes would be aimed squarely at the ARU and the Wallabies selectors.
I don't harbour any ill feelings toward Israel but if he's only playing union as a stop gap measure to get back into League then I've been saying it all along, he shouldn't be considered for the Lions Series. Give the less than once in a career chance to someone who's played union most of their life and who grew up dreaming of playing for the Wallabies.

This is almost the same argument used by many in relation to Rugby (Triangle) scholarships.
"Give the less than once in a career chance to someone who's played union most of their life and who grew up dreaming of playing for the School 1st XV Wallabies".

 

[thierry dusautoir]

Just read the force thread. Claims on there that Alfie Mafi has been told that he isn't in any of deans calculations hence he is moving to japan......

surely on current form he would be one of Deans choice wingers

 

[Bowside]

I expect we will go into the first lions test with:

9. Genia
10. JOC (James O'Connor)
11. Folau
12. McCabe
13. Fainga'a/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Ioane
15. Barnes

Or maybe even a fat kurtley beale at 15 if we are lucky.

Lord give me strength.

 

[Braveheart81]

Just read the force thread. Claims on there that Alfie Mafi has been told that he isn't in any of deans calculations hence he is moving to japan..

surely on current form he would be one of Deans choice wingers

You'd hope he doesn't make a decision to move overseas right now.

It would be understandable that he isn't likely to get a spot in the 30 man Lions squad despite his current form.

When you think that our starting wingers might be Ioane and JOC (James O'Connor) and then you've got Mogg in brilliant form pushing for a spot, Drew Mitchell as a 60 odd test veteran who is coming back into form (but still making too many errors), and Dom Shipperley and Joe Tomane who were capped last year and playing well, it is hard to squeeze someone like Mafi in.

He'd hopefully get a chance later in the year or EOYT, particularly if there are plenty of injuries again.

 

[wamberal]

If Folau is playing well enough, and earns a place on merit, he should be picked against the Lions. Who cares whether or not he takes the place of a lesser player who has been playing rugby all his life? I don't, and I will wager that 99% of rugby supporters don't, let alone the huge numbers of non-rugby people who will tune in to watch the Lions Tests - some of them drawn in, no doubt, by the chance to see Izzy in action in a rival code to their own.

As for his future, he will only stay in rugby if he can earn as much here, as he can in loig. The only way that will happen is if he does get into the Wobbs match day squad, and then performs well.

So it's all a bit Catch-22. It's up to him, now, he needs to come to grips with our game quickly, and display his undoubted talents to the full.


I hope he does. We need proven match-winners to beat the Lions, and we also need some drawcards. Most of ours are a bit shop-worn, frankly.

 

[Braveheart81]

I expect we will go into the first lions test with:

9. Genia
10. JOC (James O'Connor)
11. Folau
12. McCabe
13. Fainga'a/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Ioane
15. Barnes

Or maybe even a fat kurtley beale at 15 if we are lucky.

Lord give me strength.

I'm taking most of Bret Harris' comments with a grain of salt at this point.

I don't think there is a lot to say that either Pat McCabe or JOC (James O'Connor) are almost assured of the 12 and 10 jerseys.

 

[Scoey]

If Folau is playing well enough, and earns a place on merit, he should be picked against the Lions

That's two big 'ifs' to begin with. The reality is though that many have a hard time differentiating what he currently offers with his apparent potential, which I admit is huge.

Who cares whether or not he takes the place of a lesser player who has been playing rugby all his life? I don't, and I will wager that 99% of rugby supporters don't, let alone the huge numbers of non-rugby people who will tune in to watch the Lions Tests - some of them drawn in, no doubt, by the chance to see Izzy in action in a rival code to their own.

But you're right, who gives a fuck who plays for the Wallabies as long as we win hey! Why don't we see if we can just buy in a team of players from wherever and see if we can't just buy our way to a Lions Series win. Slater & Cronk would come across fairly well and are unbelievable talents, then you've got some fairly big strong athletic lads playing AFL that would kill it playing loose or in at lock etc. Bring them over to Union on a 6 month deal, then they can bugger off back to wherever they came from and 99% of the Rugby loving public would shout and cheer because we won.


Of course I'm being ridiculous but that's how I view the prospect of Folau playing against the Lions. I didn't like the idea to begin with but I was coming around very slowly but if he is in fact already talking with NRL clubs then he doesn't get a look in to the Lions. It just cheapens the jersey and the game.

As for the proven match winners and drawcards bit, I can only assume you meant to classify Folau as a drawcard and not a proven match winner because well, he hasn't proven that. As for drawcards, I can't see how having a celebrity on the field will help us win.

 

[Dumbledore]

Meanwhile, Bret Harris has the scoop so we can all stop debating who'll play 12.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...ckline-positions/story-e6frg7o6-1226614454063

Bret Harris was talking up McCutcheon for the Wallabies the other week. He's got about as much credibility as Growden.