Heading to the Parrramatta Eels ... Israel Folau. Photo: Steve Christo
High-priced GWS recruit Israel Folau is set to leave the Giants, and the AFL, two years into his revolutionary code-changing adventure.
Folau left NRL club the Brisbane Broncos at the end 2010 to join the AFL on a four-year deal worth approximately $6 million.
The Giants have called a press conference with Folau, coach Kevin Sheedy and CEO David Matthews at 4pm, where it is expected it will be announced that he will be switching codes again.
As recently as July, Folau refuted claims he was to switch back to his original sport.
The former Australian rugby league representative is on the verge of joining the Parramatta Eels in the NRL under former NSW State of Origin coach Ricky Stuart.
However, Parramatta have denied signing Folau but admit he is a target now that he is available.
Fairfax Media revealed in April the Eels were Folau's most likely destination if he were to switch back to the NRL. Eels recruitment manager Peter Nolan was the man instrumental in luring Folau from Melbourne Storm to Brisbane Broncos and it appears he has again got his man.
Ken Edwards, the newly appointed chief executive of the Eels football club, denied that a deal was done.
"He is the sort of player and person that we are certainly interested in," he said.
"We could see him fitting into the culture that we are building here and we could see him being a part of the club going forward.
"We would possibly have some salary cap issues in the first year we are yet to discuss with the NRL.
"We would be interested and we would seek to talk to his management."
Folau's brother, John, is already in the Eels system.
It is understood the Eels have made contact with his manager and will be keen to snap him up to bolster their backline after finishing with the NRL wooden spoon in 2012.
Folau played 13 games this season for GWS, averaging just six possessions and one tackle per game. Playing as a key forward and occasional ruckman with the expansion team, he booted only two goals, and cut a forlorn figure as he struggled to read the game.
He ahd played in 2011 in second-tier NEAFL competition, and struggled with roles in defence before coach Kevin Sheedy began playing him up forward. Former Essendon legend Sheedy remained positive that Folau would improve in time.
The other former rugby league star signed up by the AFL at the beginning of its northern expansion, Karmichael Hunt, has fared much better for the Gold Coast Suns, impressing in his two seasons in the midfield, but he had a more solid grounding in the code as a youngster. Hunt remains committed to playing with the Suns, 34 games into his new career.
Folau played 90 games in the NRL for Melbourne and Brisbane from 2007-10 before switching codes.
He made history as the youngest player to represent Queensland in rugby league’s State Of Origin and is also the youngest member of the Australian league team.
His return to league would also fuel speculation that the Giants could recruit former Adelaide key forward Kurt Tippett through the national or pre-season drafts.
GWS have the No.1 picks in the two drafts and, with no Folau, they would have ample room in their salary cap to accommodate Tippett’s hefty asking price.
Adelaide are the subject of a major AFL investigation over draft tampering and salary cap breaches.
The investigation relates to Tippett’s last contract with the Crows, signed in 2009.
The Crows face massive penalties if the AFL rule against them.
Tippett wants to play for Sydney, but the Swans were unable to negotiate a deal with Adelaide during the trade period.
with Adrian Proszenko, Fairfax Media and AAP
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