Israel Folau's Progress

[RiOtChEsS]

so we all probably know he didnt get an actual possession in his first outing but since then he has progressed...
in his sixth game, he had a breakthrough playing on the forward line rather than down back, against the Lions reserves at the Gabba.
Folau explains he stopped "thinking" and started playing on his intuition just like he used to do in the NRL, he notes. As a result, he assisted in a number of goals and took several strong marks.
"I played on instinct in that third and fourth quarter," Folau says.
"I started to play a lot better. If I keep on doing that I think I will improve quicker over time."

hopefully Izzy can have a bigger impact than Karmichael Hunt next year, he is certainly a more gifted athlete...

[Justin Bieber]

Being a more gifted athlete will help alot :P. The man is a workhorse so may be a lethal forward :o. Heard he kicked a bag a few weeks back and looks promising. But getting paid so much for a background never featuring football was questionable. Won't doubt his potential but given he will be playing with the Big Boys next season, will 1 season be enough?

[supercoach addict]

Does he even know how to kick a drop punt yet?

Auskicks kids probably have better skills then this guy. I agree about his athleticism though.

[RiOtChEsS]

fairly certain he kicked 4 and had 20+ touches just couldnt find an article too support it...

saw some footage of it tho and he can indeed kick a drop punt... well

[cameron6660]

yeah i heard something about him kicking a bag of 4, could be a defender/forward mpp next year, thoughts?

[hawk_88]

I very much doubt he will be classified as a defender.

As for his pay..... you always get paid what you are worth to the person who is paying you and it isn't any reflection on your "personal worth".

How many people can do the job they want you to do (essentially supply and demand) ultimately defines you pay.

How many AFL players can draw fans, especially kids, from the NRL? The answer is practically none. A very large portion of his pay packet is paid for by the AFL for promotion purposes and for that he is near invaluable.

He isn't not getting paid for the impact he will have on GWS's on-field success (although any will be a bonus), he is getting paid for the impact he will have on GWS's off-field success.

[CrowsFan]

This is an interview about him Stephen Silvagni with footage of him against Brisbane. He doesn't look too bad and if he keeps improving should do alright :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IRLji3_8VE

[Boomz]

Still got time to improve before GWS come in. Only way is up and as Hawk said he's mainly there for promotional purposes.

[eski_liddr]

I think theres a huge possibility that he'll be a mint player within 2 years of AFL.... would hate to see him poached by the new brisbane NRL team (which has had speculation recently)

As for his jumping and kicking ability. I think its amazing. Really looking forward to seeing some great marks by this guy, His done it all his career in the NRL and his still VERY young....This will be a great story that will unfold and strengthen our great game.

[BoredSaint]

also heard about the 4 goals he kicked

[PowerBug]

He'll be a failure in his first year, worse than K.Hunt has been. Remember all he wants is the money.

[cameron6660]

i doubt that powerbug, much better athlete than hunt, and has actually showed something in his first season unlike hunt who showed nothing to warrant a pick last year

[hawk_88]

He'll be a failure in his first year, worse than K.Hunt has been. Remember all he wants is the money.

What are you basing that off? Do you know him personally? Have you spoken to him? How do you know what his motivations are?

[PowerBug]

I'm saying that it's unlikey that someone would swap codes unless there are bigger $$$$$. Hunt might have told him something about the $$$$ he's been offered, and Folau took it up.

[hawk_88]

You are still making an assumption. He may very well have wanted a challenge.

I don't see how he is any different to GAJ or any other player that went to the Gold Coast.

And even if the money was the primary factor, why does that mean he wont take u the challenge and strive for success? As a professional sportsman he is most likely a very competitive person and enjoys pushing himself to the limit physically. Given his athletic ability and physical size I don't see why he can't be a huge success.