Israel Folau - gone and soon to be forgotten

This website, its fair to say, took a bit of stick for our strong stance on Israel Folau. 

We raised money for DE&I charity and boycotted club merchandise to show our disapproval at the club signing Folau. 

There were people who defended the clubs right to sign him and the players right to play. We respected that view, even if it didn't align with ours. 

And whilst we could look smugly at them right now and utter the words "told you so", that wouldn't be helpful. 

One thing we will remain firm on is that the club deserves limited amounts of sympathy now that he has downed tools and decided to head to the court room (yet again). 

This was always going to end in tears. Always. If those in the corridors of power at Stade Gilbert Brutus didn't consider or allow for that, then we have a problem. 

So whilst it would be nice to think that a transfer fee is coming to Perpignan to compensate Dragons for the loss of the player, I wouldn't be betting on that. 

Catalans Dragons have been used by Israel Folau and if he gets away with joining Southport Tigers on the sly by getting out of his existing contract, Bernard and Steve Mc will be left to look daft. 

When you look at the club taking risks on NRL bad boys you could argue that for every Greg Bird there was a Willie Mason, Todd Carney, Dave Taylor and so on. 

Signing Folau was on a whole different level and will now be seen as a disaster. 

We would like to think that he will be officially gone from our club as soon as contracts and severence allow and that we as fans can move on from this. 

The club should learn from this and not jump in straight away to try and re-ignite the careers of the wayward fading stars from down under.