Look who’s popping up at Origin opener
Israel Folau will make his presence felt on one of rugby league’s biggest days, with the cross-code star set to attend the opening State of Origin encounter just hours after his bid to return to the game is heard in the Queensland Supreme Court.
Folau is seeking an injunction against the Queensland Rugby League in a bid to return to the playing field for the Southport Tigers. The matter is listed for a directions hearing today, the day Origin kicks off in Townsville.
Folau won’t appear in court, instead opting to head to North Queensland on a private jet with billionaire backer Clive Palmer. The pair will watch the game together from a private box, by which time they may know whether the 32-year-old is cleared to make his Southport debut this weekend against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.
Former politician Palmer has vowed to throw his considerable resources into ensuring Folau is permitted to return to the game in the third-tier Gold Coast competition alongside his brothers.
The QRL estimates it will spend at least A$50,000 defending its position this week alone, although the costs could skyrocket should the matter drag on.
The crux of the hearing will boil down to whether the QRL acted appropriately in not registering Folau until he has solved his contractual dispute with French club Catalans. The Dragons maintain he remains under contract to them, while Folau claims the contract was repudiated after the Super League club failed to meet its financial obligations to him.
Catalans granted Folau permission to return to Australia late last year on compassionate grounds, but expect him to return or provide a financial settlement in exchange for a release.
Palmer has accused the Super League club of treating Folau ‘‘like a slave’’, but Dragons football manager Alex Chan remains unmoved.
Team Folau has also written to the QRL to inform them that all actions against the governing body and its directors will be withdrawn should Folau be registered. However, the impasse will now be resolved in court.