"I made it clear that my first preference was to come back and play rugby league but it didn't work out the way I would have liked" ... Israel Folau pictured centre with Waratahs Rugby CEO Jason Allen, left and Waratahs coach Michael Cheika. Photo: Getty Images
IF NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert had initially determined Israel Folau's value at $250,000 he almost certainly would have been posing for photos in an Eels jersey on Tuesday rather than a Waratahs one.
Instead, the Eels get nothing for their efforts in convincing Folau to walk away from his $1.5 million-a-season AFL contract and could even find him lining up against them, with rumours already linking him to the Bulldogs or Roosters in 2014.
The 23-year-old officially confirmed a one-year deal with the Waratahs on Tuesday, believed to be worth about $350,000, but he made it clear his first preference had been to play for Parramatta and refused to rule out a return to the NRL the following season.
"For my own security and future I had to move forward and get something done" ... Israel Folau. Photo: Anthony Johnson
''It's definitely still on the cards,'' Folau said. ''Obviously, if I do enjoy [rugby union] it might be play on, otherwise I could explore other opportunities.''
Folau said he would never have been in the position if Parramatta had been able to deliver on his expectations when he secured a release from the remaining two years of his contract with Greater Western Sydney on November 1.
However, the Eels had only $110,000 to spend under the salary cap and Schubert insisted that Folau be valued at $400,000 - resulting in an offer of $350,000 that was dependent on another player agreeing to a release.
Schubert's assessment was changed last Wednesday to $250,000, with Fairfax Media told it had been decided that amount was a fairer value for a player who had been in a different code for two years and whose body shape had changed during that time.
By then it was too late and a frustrated Folau said that he was impressed by how much easier negotiations with the Waratahs coach, Michael Cheika, had been.
''Only the NRL know what happened,'' Folau said. ''I made it clear that my first preference was to come back and play rugby league but it didn't work out the way I would have liked. There was a few things discussed and they didn't come through. From my point, it wasn't something I was happy about.
''It took a while for me to understand why the process was taking so long and that is why I started to talk to Michael. When I spoke to him everything fell into place and they got something done pretty quickly.
''Obviously, I came out so late and announced I was quitting AFL and at this time of the year most clubs didn't have much space in their cap so from my point of view I couldn't wait any longer and sit around. For my own security and future I had to move forward and get something done.''
Folau used the press conference to announce his signing to respond to claims he was a ''mercenary'' and lacked integrity for not accepting Parramatta's latest offer, a $2.2 million, four-year deal.
Fairfax Media understands the deal, tabled on Tuesday last week, would have paid Folau $250,000 in 2013, $500,000 in 2014, $700,000 in 2015 and $750,000 in 2016.
''It was never about the money, obviously - otherwise I would have stayed in AFL for the next two years and got paid those big dollars that I was contracted for,'' Folau said. ''But I decided to walk away from the AFL deal, which was massive, and there was nothing secure in the future, so for me it wasn't about that.
''I met with Parramatta on Friday and for me there was nothing to hide. I met them face to face and let them know what I was thinking and where I was heading.''
Asked if he had promised coach Ricky Stuart he would sign with the Eels, Folau said: ''I didn't promise anything. Like I said at the press conference [to announce his departure from AFL], from the time I left the Giants all my options were open - rugby league and rugby union - so there were no promises at all.''
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