Broncos respond to 'interest' in signing Israel Folau
Brisbane have distanced themselves from reports they are keen to bring Israel Folau back to the NRL.
The Broncos were linked in media reports to a potential move to sign the former Wallabies winger after he reached an out-of-court settlement with Rugby Australia earlier this week over his wrongful termination claim.
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Rugby league journalist Danny Weidler reported that the Broncos had held “subtle but high-level" enquiries with the NRL about the possibility of allowing him to return to the sport.
Within hours of the reports being published, however, the Broncos issued a brief statement saying they had no intention of bringing the 30-year-old back to Red Hill.
"Contrary to media speculation, the Broncos have not been part of discussions of any kind with the player," the Broncos said in the statement posted on their website.
The club can confirm it has not expressed any interest in signing Israel Folau
Full statement: https://t.co/T0eXEoilD8— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) December 8, 2019
"The club's roster is settled for the 2020 season.
"We wish Israel well in the future."
News Corp Australia reports Folau has been training hard to get himself fit for a preferred return to rugby league.
Folau's sporting future is uncertain despite settling his claim with Rugby Australia relating to his axing over an infamous homophobic post on social media.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys has previously publicly insisted that a return to the NRL for devout Christian Folau would be difficult given his controversial stance on homosexuality is incompatible with the game's ethos.
Reports of Folau's possible return to rugby league has led to plenty of criticism, with many Broncos fans claiming they would stop supporting the club if it signed the controversial figure.
Will Israel Folau return to NRL?
“If the Broncos do it, they’ve got rocks in their head”#9WWOS #Rugby #Folau #NRL pic.twitter.com/OC7e4RHNgq— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) December 7, 2019
@brisbanebroncos I've been a supporter of the Broncos since they were formed. If you sign Folau, I'm out! Terribly amateurish investment in a congested market for the sporting dollar. @NRL
— Dan Fay (@faysie1977) December 7, 2019
If the Broncos have had even a fleeting thought about approaching Folau, it highlights the progressive & massive decline in culture & attitude of a once great club.
— Faye Pea (@afteews) December 8, 2019
The News Corp Australia report claims Folau would be willing to allow the NRL to vet his future social media posts if it allowed him to move back to the competition.
Folau played for Melbourne and the Broncos in his four-season NRL career between 2007 and 2010 before switching codes to join expansion club GWS in the AFL.
He played 13 AFL matches for the Giants before joining rugby union in 2013 and going on to make 62 Test appearances for the Wallabies.
With AAP