Israel Folau

It's not particularly helpful to counter one opinion by saying, 'Yeah but this... that's just as bad.' Nobody is saying it isn't. it's just that this is the opinion being currently talked about. This isn't 'employing bad people' top trumps...

I've heard everything today regarding this from those so outraged they refuse to go/watch (Some of them Dragons fans) to those in total agreement with Folau and everything in between. Whether we like it or not this is reflective of society as a whole. We all think different things and hold different views and opinions. Society as an entity moves forward and progresses though, and carries us all along for the ride. This is an important point. As society progresses so does its values and morals. It's why we don't drown people with mental illness as witches. Why we don't tolerate cruelty to animals. Or enslave other human beings. All things that were not only socially acceptable in the past, but also divinely ordained. Do people in the present still hold outdated and morally wrong opinions? Absolutely. But the majority change and those in the minority eventually pass into history.

The problem with Folau's multiple comments is that society has deemed them archaic, wrong and to be consigned to history as they should be. It's not acceptable to hide behind religious belief as an excuse for unacceptable behaviour. I'm presuming that he is similarly outraged by those with tattoos, who wear mixed fabrics, and those that eat shrimps. Something the Bible also says is forbidden. But of course he finds these things okay because he partakes in them. If he doesn't like gay sex then he should refrain from doing that and that's fine. What others choose to do are up to them.

That is why Folau is wrong for what he did.

RL clubs are hypocritcal. Society is too. It's complicated. In my opinion SL and Catalan shouldn't have touched him. Maybe if he'd apologised or made amends he wouldn't have been sacked or at least would have been given another chance. He instead chose to carry it on and show no regard for the consequences of his actions. He then p1ssed and moaned about it, and tried to get the gullible public to stump-up the cash for his legal team. He's literally going to be poison to the sport he ends up in.

Giasf, rugby league sets itself up as an inclusive sport. It always has done especially when compared to the likes of Union. We have a comparatively good history with racial diversity for example. The sport also takes a hard line against supporters shouting any racist/homophobic nonsense. So against all that how does it look that Catalans have just signed a very famous sportsman who publicly preaches his divisive views? It’s the very public and repeat expression of his views that does it - it’s not a one off. Even if he keeps his gob shut it is all over the news and will continue to be for a while.

Also I wouldn’t lump his religion in with everyone else in this country- his ‘Church’ preaches a form of Christianity more extreme that the vast majority of Christians.

Thats my take on it anyway. Others may be able to describe it differently.

I've just had a brainwave.

As most no I've got no axe to grind with RU and think it's high time we at Salford took the moral high ground in this.

Let's pick a home game (say Catalan) and pick a random local RU team (I'm told www.villagespartans.co.uk are good) and invite them along.

Do a skills session pre game and walk out hand in hand with players of both teams.

My genius at time dazzles me 😂

And Carnster I think you missed my point re Anne Francke but let's allow it to rest.
Enjoy the match on Friday. Cheers.

In fairness mate he has shown some remorse. He stated yesterday that his intention wasnt to hurt anybody and that he wont do it again.

Short of abandoning his fundamental beliefs i'm not sure what else is reasonable to expect. The fact is nobody on this thread as far as I can tell has condoned what he said. The point I was trying to make earlier is that moral outrage is fine, and applying consequences to actions is fine, as long as they are applied across the board.

It seems to me to be categorically wrong to exclude Folau in specifically because his particular transgression is more abhorrent to us based on a societal trend.

We have to decide, we either apply a blanket ban from our sport to everyone who transgresses in a manor deemed unacceptable to society, or we dont.

Cherry picking who we castigate for their crimes is fundamentally wrong. I loved Rob Lui, I thought he was one of our all time best over seas signings, he also from the odd time I spoke to him seemed like a nice bloke. When we talk about making amends realistically the only real amends he could make in his situation was trying his best and not doing it again. 

Using this as a barometer, now Folau has said he wont do it again surely he is entitled to the same opportunity?

I dont believe he is remorseful. I expect he still fundamentally believes what he said. That being the case I said that was the best we could reasonably expect.

My point is, we either treat all serious transgressor's the same, or were guilty of being prejudicial and hypocritical in a similar way to him.

We have players (we all know who they are) in our sport guilty of serious incidents some of which far worse in my opinion than what Folau is guilty of, some being repeat offenders.

There are often moans and questions about how they get away with it, but no one seriously talks about banning people for life, yet in this case people seem to feel perfectly justified, and indeed morally outraged.

I just dont think this is fair, hes entitled to believe what he wants however distasteful it may be. As long as he keeps his mouth shut and doesnt preach about it I believe he is entitled to play the same as all the others.

I'd say buy me a pint and we'll forget it but I'm afraid you'd make me sup that crap you drink 🤮