IZZY FAIR DINKUM???
Wow! It was only last week that i included talk of how we should be doing more to get big players back in our game ie: Israel Folau. Only a matter of days later and he is gone again.
What has happened in that short amount of time? I read reports of a $3 million offer over 4 years. Where did all the talk go of wanting to play with my brother? ” It’s not about the money ?”
I’m sorry Izzy, but mate, you have shown everyone , it is about the money. While im the first to tell any team mate or friend, that you have to look after yourself and set up your future, i can’t for the life of me fathom why izzy would do it this way. The parramatta club seem to have ‘bent over backwards’ to accomadate the former international into their plans, but now seem to have been used as a pawn or bargaining chip to get izzy the highest price. Izzy is a very religious person i hear, but surely the place of worship may shake in the foundations if he were to walk in the doors after the amount of lies we have heard from him this past few years. He told us mid way through this year he was so happy in the AFL and not looking to change… well… look how that ended up!(if i was smarter id find them all and list them) Although, the more and more i think about his situation , the more i realise that izzy may not be the one calling the shots.
I bet when izzy made those comments after first announcing he was leaving the AFL, that it’s now ‘not about the money’, that his manager neally fainted. Surely whilst guiding the career of a high profile client you would ensure that you are both on the same page and are working together on your next deal.
I’m not here to start bagging managers, they are not the most popular figures in the game, but they do a job. And with all things being fair, Israels manager has done a decent job of getting him the big bucks, it’s just that his image and profile have probably been heavily tarnished throughout the game of rugby league. Is he happy to sacfifice his image for the cash? When i was younger i would have said yes, but these days your image or as some people like to call it your “brand” is far more important than a few extra dollars, particularly when coming towards the end of your career. That is when you need to capitalise on how you have carried yourself throughout those previous years. ( i should take my own advice)
After reading todays comments, and seeing that he has only signed a 6 month deal worth $250,000, ( im guessing the ARU may have tipped in a bit too to help out) is he going to do the same as he has done in the past? Pledge his allegiance to the new code paying the $$$ then when the chance arises be off on his next cash cow adventure. Funnily enough, i am sure the timing will be perfect for when the 6 month deal expires that he will again be able to sell himself to the highest bidder.
Of course the other aspect in this situation is how must the waratahs players feel who negotiated new deals recently. I am led to believe some were told there was no money left??? But really, its rugby union, not our problem!
Days ago i wanted him back in the game again, and looking for the NRL to do everything they could, but now, seeing how things have panned out, i am glad he hasn’t come back, and i wish him all the best in that other code.
Remember, these are just my thoughts.
You agree?
THE PIG
mark riddell 
well said.
Well said Piggy.
100% Pig
Does it really matter? Let the bloke set himself up for life while playing a game that will make him a house hold name globally. Mark if somebody asked you to coach SGball at another club for 3 x what you are paid now would you not ditch the Roosters? Clubs have a habit of doing this to players when they aren’t wanted take Prince and the Titans for instance, a players career could be over after one bad tackle think Simon Dwyer – don’t be angry at Israel for looking after himself have a look at RL administration that allowed it to get to this stage. I have a feeling the Izzy is going to be a World Cup winning wallaby come 2015.
Mate, I’m all for blokes getting everything they can , but he used parra and the NRL like a pawn.
Very well said !! He used my team and got us all excited at the prospect of him coming down and in the end he just signs up for another code . It’s ridiculous and inconsiderate . I know he gets a better pay out of this but what do our poor management, who tried their hardest to make this happen, get ? Nothing . Like you said – they were used.
Piggy there have been so many mistakes made during the Folau saga that I don’t know who to lump the most blame on. Clearly Folau thinks that his God is a lawyer and speaking in a forked tongue and misleading people is not lying due to a technicality. He clearly mislead Ricky Stuart and the Eels who were intrumental in gainging his release from the AFL.
The NRL also have their share of the blame too. Ian Schubert has now decided that he can arbitrarily dictate what a club has to pay a player in which there has been precedents set before where players have been signed for less than market value i.e Darren Lockyer and Mark Gasnier this stalled the process for 1 month and it took The Waratahs 1 week to achieve what NRL took 1 month to do.
The management at the Eels for the past couple of years have been in shambles. it has been a revolving door over there in terms of CEO’s and other key figures. They have had the problem in the past of leaking signings or potential signings only for them to fold at the 11th hour due to the place becoming an unattractive option for both players and their managers. In this case the Eels should have remained silent until the deal was done. Officially posting on Twitter and Facebook about Izzy was setting the Eels up for a massive fall if it fell through and it did in spectaculor fashion.
Im glad your coaching, I agree with your opinions and It would be a shame of you were lost from the game.
The problem isn’t chasing the money, its how you do it. You don’t need to be an unprincipled mercenary, taking strange detours and renege on agreements etc.
The career of a league player is relatively short but if you want to see how to set yourself up for life especially after the game, look at the careers of Hindy, Petero, Hazam and Lockyer. They gave a lot to the game and in retirement, the game has given them something after the full time siren.
When Izzy’s career end, he may have the money but he won’t be very rich.
Israel folau. Jack of all trades, master of none.
Couldn’t agree with you more Piggy. He was the one chasing Parramatta. HE called Ricky Stuart and told Ricky he wanted out of AFL and wanted to play for the Eels…with his brother and mates…so Ricky and Ken Edwards do EVERYTHING they can to make it happen and when they FINALLY get Schubert to agree….he spits in the face of the club HE was chasing…it wasn’t the other way around. No integrity at all. I’m glad he isn’t coming to play for the club I support…mercenary.
I think a slot on a boxing undercard would be a great step for him next and then Sydney FC might be looking for a marquee player in 2014… seriously this guy was a winger, not a star like some of the quality hookers who have graced our game (not that i can think of any)
Well done Piggy. Great blog. I cant believe I actually wanted this bloke to come to the mighty Red V. Israel should never be allowed back to the Greatest Game of All. Ever.
He is the worst example of a money grabber that I can remember. He has lost any shred of respect he had after that pathetic stint in the AFL.
I wonder if he donates all his ‘hard earned’ cash to his church. I doubt it. I say let him gather cobwebs on the wing in Rugby Yawn-ion. Who needs him.