{"id":468524,"date":"2026-06-09T14:53:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/468524\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T14:53:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:53:13","slug":"israel-folau-chasing-shock-nrl-return-shopped-to-sydney-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/468524\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel Folau chasing shock NRL return, shopped to Sydney club"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n <\/p>\n

There is plenty of speculation mounting that former cross-code star Israel Folau<\/a> is eyeing a return to the NRL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Folau last played in the 13-man code in 2010 with the Brisbane Broncos<\/a>, and is being shopped to the Wests Tigers<\/a>, according to fresh reports from 2GB and Spiro Christopoulo.<\/p>\n

The former Wallaby is plotting a return to the NRL<\/a> at 37-years of age and is seeking a train-and-trial deal, with Benji Marshall<\/a> being approached by Folau’s camp to try to get a deal done.<\/p>\n

It could happen as early as before the June 30 deadline.<\/p>\n

“It’s my information today that he has been shopped around to the Wests Tigers<\/a>. I’m told that Benji Marshall<\/a> has been approached by Israel Folau’s manager and there is talk that a train and trial deal could be done as soon as before the June 30 deadline. I have spoken to multiple sources,” journalist Spiro Christopoulos said on air.<\/p>\n

News Corp however are reporting the Tigers weren’t interested in Folau’s services. It’s unclear at this stage if his camp have reached out to other clubs.<\/p>\n

Folau’s departure from the NRL<\/a> came as one of the biggest ‘what-if’ storylines out of the code, showcasing elite speed, skill and talent who represented the Kangaroos and the QLD Maroons<\/a> before his exit.<\/p>\n

\"Folau'sGOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 04: Israel Folau passes during an Australian Wallabies training session at Sanctuary Cove on September 4, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The polarising figure played 91 matches over his four-year stint in the NRL<\/a>, with an elite strike rate of 73 tries within the space.<\/p>\n


\n
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There is plenty of speculation mounting that former cross-code star Israel Folau is eyeing a return…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":468525,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[111,139,69,213],"class_list":["post-468524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=468524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/468525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=468524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=468524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=468524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}