Israel Folau’s wife Maria has claimed rugby league great Wayne Pearce blocked the crosscode footballer’s return to the NRL.
The 37-year-old former Storm and Broncos star last played in the NRL in 2010.
Folau played 73 Test for the Wallabies but had his lucrative deal with Rugby Australia torn up in 2019 over homophobic social media posts.
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He had been linked with a return to the NRL with the St George Illawarra in 2021 but the Dragons pulled out of a deal as the ARLC said it would not register his contract.
Most recently he has played for Urayasu D-Rocks in Japanese rugby.
Maria Folau, a former netballer for New Zealand, said her husband was set to sign a contract with the Wests Tigers after discussions with coach Benji Marshall, only for the deal to be pulled.
“Benji contacted Iz saying that he wanted Izzy to be a part of the West Tigers for the remainder of the season,” Maria Folau said in an Instagram video you can watch above.
“Iz told Benji that he’d had to clear it with Peter V’landys because of what happened with the Dragons in 2021 with Izzy being blocked to play in the NRL.
“Benji said, yes, all good, that he had already cleared it with V’Landys and the Tigers board.
“Then about a week later, Benji called saying that he had hit a roadblock, that Peter had spoken to him saying that everyone has given the all clear but Wayne Pearce, who is on the Commission.
“His reasoning behind not wanting Izzy to play is because of inclusiveness, whatever that means, and also that it would be a bad look to have Izzy back in the game.”
Pearce, a Balmain Tigers legend and former NSW State of Origin coach, is an ARL commissioner.
Maria Folau said the “whole exercise (felt) like a complete was of time”.
Folau commented on his wife’s post, stating that other players have been given a second chance in the NRL.
“The double standard from the @nrl is crazy. The game talks about inclusion, yet my Christian beliefs were said to be a problem and didn’t align with their values,” he wrote.
“At the same time, players who’ve committed actual offences have been welcomed back. Make it make sense.”
Former Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper commented: “The irony of inclusivity.. excluding someone in the name of inclusion. You can’t claim to champion diversity while deciding who gets to participate. Make it make sense.”
Benji Marshall recently said the 37-year-old Folau would not be joining the Tigers.
“That’s the furthest thing from my mind, I need to get my team back on track,” Marshall said.
“I need to focus on what’s important right now … we’re not signing him.”
Originally published as ‘Waste of time’: Israel Folau’s wife claims rugby league great blocked NRL comeback