Israel Folau

Israel Folau
Personal information
Full name	Israel Folau
Nickname	Big Man, Izzy
Born	3 April 1989 (1989-04-03) (age 19)
	Minto, New South Wales, Australia
Height	196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight	104 kg (16 st 5 lb)
Playing information
Position	Centre, Wing
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2007–2008	Melbourne Storm	54	39	9	0	165
2009–	Brisbane Broncos	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	54	39	9	0	165
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2007–	Australia	7	5	0	0	20
2008–	Queensland	3	4	0	0	16
As of 23 November 2008

Israel Folau (born 3 April 1989 in Minto, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently contracted with the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League. He has also represented Australia at international level and Queensland at state level.

He will join the Brisbane Broncos from the 2009 season.^[1]

Folau was born in Minto, New South Wales to parents of Tongan descent.^[2][3] Folau attended Westfield Sports High School before his family moved to Brisbane,^[4] where Folau attended Marsden State High School from which he was selected for the Queensland School Boys squad in the Australian Under-15 Championships. At the Australian championships Folau was spotted by a Melbourne Storm scout and was invited to play his junior rugby with the Storm's feeder club at the time, Queensland Cup team, the Norths Devils. He won a premiership while playing with Norths and became the first player to represent Queensland Under-19's while still only 16 years old. From playing with the Queensland School Boys & the Devils, in 2006 he was selected to play in the Australian Schoolboys squad that toured Wales, England and France. Folau was strong representing Australia and at the end of the tour was awarded the Australian Secondary School Rugby Leagues (ASSRL) Award for the best back of the tournament. Playing years above his age gave Melbourne the confidence to give Folau a run in the NRL, and at only 17 years of age he made his debut in the 2007 season.

Folau's NRL debut came before Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy intended as he was named on the right wing in place of the injured Steve Turner. He started in the side's first match of the 2007 NRL season, against the Wests Tigers, and became the youngest player ever to play for the Storm.^{[citation needed]} In his first game, he scored the match-winning try to help Melbourne beat the Tigers 18-16. After such a solid performance in his opening game, and an injury free year, Folau went on to play in every match of the season, the only player to do so for Melbourne in 2007. Playing superbly on the wing, coach Craig Bellamy brought Folau in to play in the centres from time to time, where he would receive more ball and have more opportunity to score points. After 26 rounds Folau finished the regular season with 21 tries and 5 goals for a total of 94 career points. His try tally (21) saw him the equal regular season top-try scorer for 2007 alongside North Queensland Cowboys full-back Matt Bowen.^[5]

Folau appearing for the Storm in August, 2008

In his rookie year Folau broke a number of club and NRL records, the most prestigious: beating fellow team-mate Billy Slater's previous NRL record of most tries in a debut season (Slater scored 19 in 2003). Folau capped off a magnificent first season in the NRL by winning the 2007 Dally M Rookie of the Year Award and being a part of the successful 2007 Melbourne Storm premiership side, that only lost three matches all year.

In 2008, after Melbourne and New South Wales representative Matt King announced he would be leaving the Storm to play with the Warrington Wolves in the English Super League, Folau filled the void as the starting centre for Melbourne. He slotted into the role with ease and at the conclusion of the 2008 regular season, Folau was again awarded at the prestigious Dally M Awards night winning the Dally M Centre of the Year award. Folau had been a part of his second minor premiership in as many years with the Melbourne Storm and played in his second consecutive grand final where they lost in a rematch of last years final to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.^[6]. Earlier in the year away from the field, on 30 March 2008, it was announced Folau had signed with the Brisbane Broncos for the 2009 NRL season. Folau's decision to leave the Melbourne Storm at the end of 2008 was influenced by his desire to live closer to his family in Brisbane, Queensland.^[7]

Folau was a major signing for the Broncos at the same time several key players, plus coach Wayne Bennett left the club. He is expected to make his debut for the Brisbane Broncos in their first match of 2009.

Following an ankle injury to Brisbane Broncos centre Justin Hodges, Folau replaced him in the Australian test side to play New Zealand on 14 October 2007. On his international debut, Folau became the youngest ever player to represent Australia at 18 years and 194 days old, passing the previous record set by Brad Fittler (18 years and 247 days) in 1990. Folau then went on to score two tries in Australia's record-breaking 58–0 defeat of New Zealand.^[8]

After seven rounds of the 2008 season, Folau was named on the wing in the starting squad to represent Australia for the second time in the Centenary Australia vs. New Zealand test, contributing a try in the 28–12 win for the Kangaroos.

Folau was selected in the starting squad as a winger in the Queensland State of Origin Team for game I of the 2008 Series. On 21 May 2008, Folau made his debut for Queensland at ANZ Stadium Sydney. In the final minutes of the match Folau scored a try on debut, but Queensland lost 18–10 to New South Wales. Folau retained his position for game II at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Folau contributed one of the Maroons' four tries in the 30 point win over the Blues, levelling the series. In the final game of the series, game III, Folau scored two leaping tries and was awarded the Man of the Match in Queensland's 16–10 win over NSW.

In August 2008, Folau was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,^[9][10] and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad.^[11]

Folau is a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.^[12]

Individual

• 2007: Dally M Rookie of the Year
• 2007: Australian Young Performer of the Year (Fairfax Sports Performer Awards)^[13]
• 2007: International Newcomer of the Year (RLIF Awards)
• 2008: State of Origin Man-of-the-Match (Game 3, 2008)
• 2008: Dally M Centre of the Year

Team

• 2007: Minor Premiers (Melbourne Storm)
• 2007: Premiers (Melbourne Storm)
• 2008: Minor Premiers (Melbourne Storm)

Representative

• 2007: All-time Youngest Australian International Player (18 years and 194 days)
• 2007 - 2008: Australian Kangaroos Test Squad (2 Tests)
• 2008: Australian Rugby League World Cup Squad (5 Matches)
• 2008: Queensland State of Origin Squad (3 Matches)

National Rugby League Records

• 2007: Most Tries in a Debut Season (21)

• Foxsports
• Melbourne Storm