Dragons release Israel Folau with immediate effect

 Its over. And breath. 

Folau deal mooted

 Israel Folau is rumoured to be free to make his Southport Tigers debut this weekend. 

He and the clubs controversial owner are said to have settled out of court with the Catalans Dragons. 

I have two final points to make on this...

1. Bernard - please learn from this and stop trying to rehome ex NRL tearaways. 
2. Folau - Bye. 

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. 

Dragons threaten Folau with legal action

 This is moving fast isn' it...

After his unveiling at a tense press conference, Folau has is a Southport Tigers player. 

Click here to read Alex Chan's stance on this fact our player is likely to be turning out for another club on the other side of world. 

Folau joins Southport Tigers

 A lot of media outlets are going big on Southport Tigers in Australia having signed Israel Folau. 

Earlier in the week there was talk of him returning to France but this looks to have put paid to that. 

Read the full story here. 

I think there will be very few people, even within our club, who will be surprised that this whole thing has ended in tears. 

At least my boycott on club merchandise and going to games can now be lifted. 

Are Dragons resigned to losing Folau?

Steve McNamara has told the Totalrl.com website that unless his family situation changes back in Australia there will be no update regarding any potential return to the club by Israel Folau. 

Despite being contracted to the club for 2021, the Australian centre has been back in Brisbane attending a family emergency and we wish the family the best with regards to that. 

There has been a lot of speculation and the piece addresses that and looks to set the record straight on where the club and players talks are. 

You can read it here. 

There's no smoke without fire... Folau on the verge of Dragons exit

Despite the club issuing strong denials about a pending exit for Israel Folau this always felt like a case of when not if. 

Steve McNamara was playing the right game by saying there were no issues with his controversial centre coming back to Europe for pre-season the fact the club are clearly in the market for centres was a red flag. 

They are looking to replace David Mead was the response and whilst that is true the rumblings about Folau from the Australian media was enough to keep the alarm bells ringing in my head. 

This isn't the time to judge whether he has been a success at the club or what his legacy will be. This is the time to get this resolved one way or the other and for us to move on if that is what we need to do. 

The wife and I discussed it as we made our coffee this morning and her response was more direct that mine... "Yet another overpaid NRL player using us to get back in the sport and get their profile up". 

If he is bound for St Geroge then being back in an area close to where he grew up might be enough of an explanation. 

Where's Izzy?

There are reports coming out of the local press in Catalunya to suggest that Covid-19 imposed travel restrictions are causing rumours that Israel Folau will not be back in 2021. 

After joining in 2020 in a blaze of negative publicity Folau refuted suggestions that he was chasing the Euro's in the Top 14 and that he would spend a full year with the Dragons this time out. 

But after stories linking him to Toulon rugby union recently it now appears he isn't showing up in France any time soon. 

We will be keeping an eye on this... 

Catalans Dragons 26-14 Leeds Rhinos

Dragons Catalans (18) 26

T : Tom Davies, Samisoni Langi, Israel Folau, David Mead

G : James Maloney 5

Leeds Rhinos (6) 14

T : Alex Sutcliffe 2, Konrad Hurrell

G : Rhyse Martin

Hooray !!! Catalans have beaten Leeds and managed to find a way to win in the Super League playoffs. 

There was plenty to admire in the Dragons performance on Friday night, but this being Catalans we must deal with some other stuff as well. 

Micky McIlorum and JoelKins showed a lack of discipline at key points in the match with a high shot followed by lifting the player off the worst offence. 

That is on McIlorum's rap sheet, Tomkins was more for a poke (shall we say) at Richie Myler as a tackle was completed. 

I didn't mind Myler when he played for us but as the season has gone on he seems to be getting more and more of a moany arse (hahaha see what I did there?!). 

Back to the match and we came out of the traps super fast getting 12-0 ahead before Rhinos had really go started. 

Of course we switched off and let them in with tries on either side of the half time hooter before Rob Lui gifted a try to David Mead which saw us breath a collective sigh of relief. 

The players did too and let Konrad Hurrell score more of less from the restart. 

It kept it interesting until Jimmy Maloney walloped a penalty from close to half way which finally put the Yorkshiremen back in their box.

So it's on to St Helens next week and a match we have a better than average record in. So you never know. 

 

Castleford fade as Dragons show what they are capable of

 Where to start with this one eh?

I was about ready to take my foamy cool beer and head out into the garden to take in some rays rather than watch this match. 

Castleford were hitting us at over a point a minute until the quarter hour mark before we managed to battle our way back into it. 

The performance of Israel Folau on the left edge and his desire to include Tom Davies outside him was key to the swinging of momentum. 

The Cas sin bin before half time also helped leaving them short handed in the boiling heat of Leeds. 

The second half was more of the same and as terrible as we were against St Helens last week, we were awesome against Cas this. 

So what can we take from this performance? 

Not a lot really, I think that we are in for a roller coaster ride (as usual!!) for the rest of the year. 

The Secret Diary of Israel Folau, aged 31¾

 Monday.

A neighbour comes round and asks to borrow a cup of sugar. I inform him that in Alan chapter 17, it says sugar cannot be traded on a Monday and then I insinuate that he has no right to exist as a human and is lower than vermin. Nice chap.

Tuesday.

Shocking scenes in Beirut with that enormous explosion. It's probably because they claim to have recorded civilisation there going back 7000 years which is impossible as the earth could only plausibly be 4000 years old. It says so in this book, probably. Anyway, I'm hoping there will be some sort of show of solidarity with the Lebanese at the game this weekend that I can make all about me.

Wednesday.

Day of rest due to a misprint in the bible.

Thursday.

Golf on the telly. This is outrageous and ungodly. If god had meant for us to play golf, he would have given us putters for fingers. I throw my TV out of the window and send the PGA the bill.

The state of Israel

I was away yesterday and hadn't even considered following any rugby by any means. Setting off back home, my phone peeped into life. A message. "Exactly how much of a c--- is Israel Folau?"

A bit of back and forth and I got the story of the day. And the answer, it transpires, is a lot of c---.

I'm not sure how you avoid knowledge of the Black Lives Matter movement and the global outpouring of support following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Clearly 33 players before the St Helens game had managed to give it some thought and make the universal gesture of support before kick-off by taking to the knee.

For a game with the history of ours, this is important. See the stories of black Welsh players, seeing their opportunities in rugby union stymied by systemic racism, come north and make their way in our game for one instance. See Clive Sullivan go (they're saying go, go, and he goes). And let's not pretend there aren't issues within the game or that the communities in which our clubs exist are havens of enlightened thought, behaviour and culture. This matters.

Folau has, at time of writing, not explained his action - or lack thereof. We see other knobheads say they'll only kneel for prayer, the Queen and when they proposed to their wife. It's a weak argument made by weak, wannabe hard men (and it is men, and I'm looking directly at Dominic Raab here). It doesn't take much to extrapolate his previous bullshit to think this is what it's about. It wouldn't be very christian of him to take a stand - literally - on this.

We have to make a stand here. Folau does not represent what we at sang-et-or are about. We're already chipping in to the Anthony Kennedy Trust, as we've talked about before. Now, we're doubling our commitment and every time he does what he did on Sunday, we'll match our AKT donation with the same amount to Rainbow Noir.

Rainbow Noir is a volunteer led social, peer support and community action group, which celebrates and platforms people of colour who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and/or Intersex (LGBTQI). We're sure Israel will be pleased to help raise money for this valuable cause.

Contract extension for Folau

Israel Folau has today signed a contract extension for the 2021 season with Catalans Dragons. 

The deal that brought him to Superleague was originally only for this year but with the state of the competition and Dragons likely to be adrift of the playoffs being two rounds more behind the rest of the teams the player wants to use 2021 to have a proper go at the league. 

Reports of an extension for Folau

According to the French rugby union website Rugbyrama, Israel Folau has resisted the temptation to follow Dimitri Pelo and Fouad Yaha into the Top14 by refusing to sign a contract with Montpelier for that sports following season. 

It is reported that the Australian is close to agreeing a contract extension with the Catalans Dragons, a deal which will keep him in the 13 a side code. 

I am not sure how I feel about this to be honest. 

Much as I deplore the views he has shared, the investment the Catalans have made deserves a greater return than the couple of games before lockdown ahead of him clearing off to union for a bag of money. 

What is a positive sign is that the club are working on contracts for next season already with the key thing being keeping the strong core of the side together. 

Dracs open their account against Tigers

Fortunately the Dragons performance was able to move the emphasis from off the field shenanigans to on field victory as we got some brief rest-bite from Folaugate. 

Dragons Catalans (20) 36

T : Sam Tomkins (3), Israel Folau, Samisoni Langi, Fouad Yaha

G : James Maloney (6)

 

Castleford Tigers (12) 18

T : Derrell Olpherts, Cheyse Blair, James Clare

G : Richardson (3)

The fact that the man the news crews travelled across the world to see scored with his first touch in Superleague shouldn't be allowed to detract from the brilliant performance of Sam Tomkins who bagged a hat-trick with some proper hard running from the back. 

There were points in the match where defending seemed optional for both sides. 

All of Castleford's try's seemed to come from defensive howlers the home side made. 

But that's being pedantic. The first win is on the board and whilst there was still enough to suggest it will be a long season for the Dragons, we will take the points and move on. 

Some bloke is making his debut... maybe

After a couple of weeks of soul searching I have finally decided to break cover and offer my thoughts on what's been occurring.

It has been a really difficult time for Rugby League, Catalans Dragons and on a smaller scale this website.

John and I have always been proud to be an outpost of Catalan fans in the UK and with the creation of the UK Supporters Club last year things were starting to build and grow organically.

Of course we wanted me people to read the site and more people to show an interest. Not like this though.

In the days after Israel Folau signed for the club we were fielding media requests and seeing site traffic the likes of which dwarfed the days after our Challenge Cup Final win.

The Press Association spoke to me and I found myself like a Premiership footballer trying to answer questions by not answering questions.

With hindsight, the postponement at Wakefield was probably a good thing for Dragons with time to process the anger directed at them.

Everyone's favourite second team is now the one all love to hate. That is going to take some getting used to for us.

Incredibly though some of the headlines have moved off Folau and onto Anthony Gelling, such is the way the media works.

But with the potential for the Aussie to debut at the weekend, all eyes with be on Stade Gilbert Brutus tomorrow.

Where am I at with it now?

I fundamentally disagree with the signing and I think that Steve McNamara has made a terrible decision. But regular readers will know that I have not wanted him coaching my team since day one.

If not even a trophy can change my view, this certainly won't.

I am not going to lie, I did spent time googling which Super League club is closest to South Lincolnshire and offered the family the option to change teams. Something that is alien to me as I am of the camp that says you pick a team you stick with it.

But after seeing that its almost equidistant from our house to Hull FC, Castleford, Wakefield and London I think I am going to stick with Dragons but at a distance.

Once Folau is gone and once McNamara is gone then I hope my passion returns. For now though the behaviour of some in the corridors of power at the Dragons has pissed me off to the extent I now longer look forward to matches and no longer anticipate trips to see my team play.

O'Neills have already made their feelings known on the matter, but its worth reiterating that any merchandise I was planning to buy for my family this season wont be happening and the money donated to our charity of choice.

However, amongst all of this, a season is taking place.

We (and I still just about use that word to describe the Dragons) play Castleford at home tomorrow and here is the squad.

The squad

2. Lewis TIERNEY
3. Samisoni LANGI
4. Israel FOLAU
5. Fouad YAHA
6. James MALONEY
7. Josh DRINKWATER
8. Rémi CASTY
9. Micky McILORUM
11. Matt WHITLEY
12. Joel TOMKINS
13. Benjamin GARCIA
14. Julian BOUSQUET
17. Benjamin JULLIEN
20. Lucas ALBERT
21. Paul SEGUIER
22. Arthur ROMANO
23. Antoni MARIA
24. Jason BAITIERI.
27. Gavin MARGUERITE
28. Sam KASIANO
29. Sam TOMKINS

Superleague Chairman threaten Dracs with the law...

This is going to get uglier and much worse before a resolution is found.

The BBC is reporting that Hull KR owner Neil Hudgell is threatening to sue the Dragons for any loss of earnings relating to the Catalans signing Israel Folau.

You can read the full article here. But with an unveiling cancelled in Perpignan and a meeting of Superleague Chairmen tomorrow, it's far from done and dusted that the player will ever make an appearance for the club.

Where this will leave Bernard Guasch who has repeatedly said in the past that the English clubs are out to get him is not known.

Bring out the popcorn memes people... 

Here we go again...

Where to start with this club eh?

I will be honest and say there have been times over the last week where I have been thinking that investing my time, money and interest in another club would be preferable.

After this shambles, the transfer window for my family and I remains open. Get in touch if your club needs supporters.

But I am old school and am cut from the cloth that says when you pick a team you stick with a team.

How Steve McNamara retained his job last season remains the best magic trick I have seen since David Blaine was suspended over the River Thames in a box.

It defies belief. He got a lucky run to win the Challenge Cup final of 2018 but even then managed to ship out that seasons best player in Josh Drinkwater and replace him with Matty Smith... How'd that one work out Steve?

We have gone from playing some of the most exciting rugby in the division to some of the worst and if anyone was looking at us as a playoff club this year, you want to give your head a shake.

We are in a battle to stay up and need to hope Toronto keep the level of performance they put in on Sunday.

It's not just McNamara that's at fault here though. The club seems to be carnage from the meat cleaver wielding owner down.

Recruitment seems a joke.... Remember Josh Drinkwater from a couple of paragraphs ago? he got brought back once the club realised Matty Smith needed a lot of time to get fit. Confused?

You will be.

Joel and Sam Tomkins seemed to bring the worst out of each other, especially in a McDonalds... so they spent some time apart with Samkins in France with us and Joelkins at Hull KR. This winter the club felt they should be back together... in a beach resort with loads of bars.

So far so good, but there is still plenty of time for that to go nuclear.

All of this bizarre, bizarre behaviour has been knocked into a cocked hat by the awful decision to sing Israel Folau.  You will all have read John D's excellent pieces on this site about that issue and seen we are committed to trying to push an agenda that is against hatred, so no more needs adding on that.

However throwing all of this in the mix, it's probably very little surprise that Dragons were beaten heavily by Huddersfield.

Catalans Dragons (6) 12

T : Fouad Yaha, Sam Tomkins
G : James Maloney 2

Huddersfield Giants (16) 32

T : Joe Wardle, Jermaine McGillvary 2, Aidan Sezer, Louis Senior
G : Aidan Sezer 6

Where do we go from here?

Well Wakefield actually... and I fear another hiding is coming.

The Folau Pledge

On the back of yesterday's announcement by the club and subsequent editorial on this site, our editorial team decided to try to turn this into something positive.

Impotent rage is simply that, and a waste of emotion to boot. Instead, we're going to try to turn our attention to making sure some good comes out of this all.

This writer is making a pledge.
For every minute Israel Folau plays for the Dragons this year, I will donate 10p to charity.

The charity we've chosen is the Albert Kennedy Trust.
They do great work with vulnerable young LGBTQ+ people. 24 percent of homeless young people identify as LGBT. Of those people, 77 percent believe that coming out to their parents was the main factor for their homelessness. This charity aims to help those people and last year they provided 6,075 nights of accommodation to vulnerable LGBT young people.

Each week, we'll update the running total and include YOUR donations too. Pledge for a game - maybe when your team is playing the Dragons - for a month, for the season, whatever. Maybe just chip an idle two quid if you can at some point between now and the end of the season. Whatever you feel.
However you wish to join in, DONATE HERE and send us a screenshot of your receipt on twitter or the messageboard and we'll add your amount to our totaliser (widget on the homepage coming soon).


Please share widely and join in if you can. Let's help make a difference and get something good out of this whole sorry mess.

Not in our name

Israel Folau has signed a one-year contract with the Dragons.

Only someone living as a goat in the Outer Hebrides could have missed why this is big news. His use of social media in the most flagrantly homophobic ways led to the termination of his contract with the Australian quinzistes and since then the question of what he does next has been floating about, specifically in terms of coming to Super League.

Over the years, the Dragons have acquired a certain reputation as a home for wayward boys and girls* with the likes of Bird, Carney and Edwards finding a place to hide away from indiscretion and continue plying their trade. In those three cases, however, there was an element of redemption about things. Bird in particular became quite the leader and reformed character. Edwards too, having quit the drink and, since his move to Huddersfield, opening up about his issues with alcohol.

Folau, in an ironically un-Christian turn of events, is entirely unrepentant. Grossly homophobic posts are still up on his social media accounts and no apology - apart from the professionally drafted non-apology - has been forthcoming.

Rugby League is a game forged out of injustice and, from there, inclusivity. This flies in the face of that. So much work has been done in regard to LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the game lately to the point where players feel comfortable enough to come out publicly - in stark contrast to many other sports - that this really does stick in the craw.

"I'm a proud Christian", says Folau, "my intention is not to hurt anyone and I will not be making further public comment about them". This writer was brought up a Christian. It's possible to be a Christian and not be a complete dick about it. Also, nowhere in my Christian education was I told to kick down at persecuted minorities; indeed, quite the opposite. Furthermore, not making any further comment suggests he has no willingness to learn why he's a dick or even who he's being a dick to. If he truly wanted to understand why his comments are so hurtful - maybe learn from this, become a better man, a better Christian - that would be a different matter. But by saying he's drawing a line and that's that, it clearly isn't his chosen path. That path to redemption that other miscreants have grasped is being spurned.

By signing Folau, the club are at best tin-eared on this. It's hardly saying that gay people are welcome to be part of the club. They've really dropped the ball here.

Folau is a Dragon, yes. But not in our name.


* extremely niche '60s pop reference. Ask your dad.