Israel Folau Potentially Faces Another Legal Battle After Signing With New Rugby League Team

Clive Palmer announced the Southport Tigers signed Israel Folau on Friday but it appears the move is still waiting for official sign-off from Queensland Rugby League.

At a press conference called on Friday morning, Palmer confirmed that Folau would play with the Tigers who are part of the Queensland Rugby League’s Gold Coast competition. 

Palmer is a patron of the Southport Tigers and confirmed the club is fully behind the decision to recruit Folau.

However, Folau is still waiting for his registration to be confirmed by the QRL before he can play as soon as early as the 29th of May. 

The Tigers play in the QTOP A Grade and will be taking on the Burleigh Bears in their round four match-up. 

“Mineralogy, my company, has sponsored and signed an agreement with Israel to play only for the Tigers as far as club football goes this year,” Palmer said on Friday. 

“As we know, Israel is the best rugby player in the world, be it rugby league or rugby union, his record stands paramount and second to none. 

“He’s had clearance from the Broncos, the last Australian club he played for in this confederation and all things being well, he plans to take the field in the next game which will take place not this weekend but the following weekend against Burleigh. 

“It’s a very, very positive development and I hope it goes a long way to ensuring the Tigers win the Premiership.”

Folau has a family connection with the club, both of his brothers are currently playing for the Tigers’ A Grade side. 

Palmer confirmed that the deal came about after they expressed a desire to play with Israel.

It’s the first opportunity all three brothers have had to play together and it is one Folau is ‘excited’ by. 

“I’m excited to be here and link up with Clive. The opportunity he has given me and my family through Mineralology and Southport Tigers is something I’m really grateful for,” Folau said. 

“As Clive said, my two brothers are involved with the club as well. It’s something I’ve never done throughout my career, play alongside them. 

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to get back on the field and put the boots back on and play some football with my family.”

Folau also says he is “confident” the QRL will approve his bid to return through the Southport Tigers.

“I’m very confident that things will move in the way we want them to,” Folau said.

“I don’t see any problem with that from a legal point of view as to why it would be pushed back. 

“That’s not in my hands, I’m just excited to get back on the field and play football, wherever that takes me.”

The 32-year-old last played professionally for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League where he had only signed on a one-year deal. 

He returned to Australia at the end of last year as he looked for a path back into the NRL. 

There was some speculation the St. George-Illawarra Dragons had sought permission from the NRL to negotiate a contract with Folau but that was quashed within 48 hours.

Folau was asked whether he intends to give the QRL any guarantees about his social media used and suggested that was a conversation for he and Palmer at a later date. 

Israel Folau stands by ‘homophobic’ comments

Folau issued no remorse over the controversial comments that saw him ostracized from Australian sport. 

When the press conference turned to his beliefs, Folau confirmed that he still strongly believes what is written in the bible. 

“I tell you what I do stand for, I stand as a Christian, I stand by the bible and what the bible says. 

“Every written word that is written in that book, I stand by that. 

Folau was then asked by a reporter whether he was homophobic. 

Palmer responded first with a denial, before the reporter than confirmed that the question was asked to Folau. 

“I believe what the bible says,” Folau responded. 

“It’s clear. I didn’t write the bible, that’s god’s written word and I believe that wholeheartedly. 

“You’ve got to read the bible in context. You ask me all these questions, but have you read the bible?”

Palmer then interjected again, suggesting that he didn’t think “that’s the issue” that needed to be discussed at the press conference. 

He then followed it up with an unusual tangent about social media being controlled by the United States and Australian politicians being banned from Facebook. 

Folau also confirmed that he still receives a lot of support from people wanting to see him back on the field.

“I think there’s been great support from the public,” Folau said.

“I came across many people out there and they’ve shown support. I’ve had so many conversations with people and I guess in the last few years you have the minority that’s being loud. 

“But there are so many supporters out there that I’m really thankful for.”

Palmer prepared to throw all his money to get Folau back on the field

Clive Palmer made it very clear on Friday that he will do whatever he takes to get Folau back on the field and playing football again. 

He intends to throw his whole weight behind the case for Folau to play football at any level and use whatever funds necessary to help his fight. 

That starts by ensuring QRL accept his registration to play for the Tigers and could potentially lead to the NRL. 

“Israel is being registered in this competition with this club, that’s what this story is about,” Palmer said.

“l’ll be very surprised if he’s not registered. I certainly support him 100 per cent with all the funds, all the resources, all the skill that I possess to ensure he’s treated fairly like all Australians. 

“My commitment to Israel Folau to ensure he can play football again is rock solid. I would pledge every cent, every dollar and every waking hour of my time to ensure he takes the field again.

“That’s for any football he wants to play. But he’s playing professional football for the Tigers, we’re a professional club and the whole club is supporting him playing and I think all of our members are.”

Palmer, who himself is familiar with the courts after being ordered to pay $1.5 million to American band Twisted Sister over a copyright breach, also issued a legal challenge to anyone who attempts to block Folau’s path back to football.

“If people want to challenge him illegally, if people want to say things about him that are not right, just watch out,” Palmer said.

“It’s over, you can’t say things about people that are wrong. You can’t discriminate against them for religious beliefs. If you do, you’ll be accountable before the courts. And it’s pretty clear what the courts say about religious freedom. 

“We are still a Christian country overall, that’s the reality of it. 

“We’re a very tolerant society in Australia and religious freedom has to be one of the most fundamental things. 

“I may not agree with Israel or a view of religion, but it shouldn’t affect how I play sport. 

“Sport is one of those things that goes across the barriers to bring people together, and we don’t want to have division, we want to have unity.”

Clive Palmer stated that he “did not know” what Folau’s views are around homosexuality, despite them being heavily documented in the media for the last three years. 

“To me, it’s nothing extraordinary that someone makes a quote from the bible,” Palmer said.

“It shouldn’t affect a person’s livelihood and how he can support his children.

“There’s no legal basis at all that Israel Folau can’t play. 

“Rugby union paid a heavy settlement to Israel for what they did to him. That’s a very regrettable thing. 

“I’ve got some resources and if it got down to a legal battle, I’m sure anyone opposing someone on the basis of religious persecution would go down very seriously and pay a lot of damages. 

“There’s no legal basis to not register Israel Folau.”

Israel Folau open to NRL return

When asked about the idea of returning to play in the NRL, Folau said it wasn’t his main concern currently. 

However, if an opportunity arises down the path it is certainly one he would look at. 

“I’m just happy to get back on the field and play and whatever that journey looks like, I’ll look at that,” Folau said.

“At the moment, I’m just excited to be joining Southport and playing alongside my brothers.”

Palmer has taken out ads in major newspapers on Friday to launch his bid to get Folau back to football.