'The way Satan works is he offers you stuff' - Folau
Israel Folau has revealed how he resisted the "temptation" of a peace offering from Rugby Australia that would have allowed him to resurrect his playing career.
The troubled Wallabies star described his fallout with the governing body as "challenging" and spoke of being tempted by the "opportunity" to rekindle his career with the NSW Waratahs and Wallabies during a Sydney church address.
The fundamentalist Christian faces being sacked by RA after being found to have committed a high-level code of conduct breach for an Instagram post that said hell awaited "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers" and others.
An independent three-member panel is expected to announce Folau's sanction this week after deciding the controversial posts left him open to having his four-year, $4 million contract torn up.
But, in a video of him speaking at a church service on Sunday afternoon, Folau insisted the process was not finished and the "outcome is yet to be known".
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"Potentially I could get terminated, which means that there's no more playing contract and therefore no more finances or money coming in," he said from the lectern.
"It would be the first time it has happened to me in my life.
"All the materialistic things I have been able to have over the last number of years are slowly being taken away from me.
"It's been really challenging but also it's been encouraging to myself to see what my God is actually doing."
It's understood Super Rugby's all-time leading try-scorer would have been allowed to resume playing again had he agreed to take down his latest controversial post.
"There have been many opportunities to potentially make the situation a little bit easier. I could go back and play the game, get everything back to the way it used to be," Folau said.
"The way Satan works is he offers you stuff that could look good to the eye and makes you feel comfortable, and if you follow that path all the worries and troubles will go away.
"(But) it is always the will of God that comes first."
The panel deciding Folau's fate is considering written submissions from both the player's legal team and Rugby Australia before handing down their verdict.
Both parties then have a right of appeal, meaning the most divisive matter in Australia could drag on for weeks and months yet.
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BB a 9'5 you have to be kidding. No way was he that good you seem to have the same hero worship of BB that the coaches have with him. Rieko to the wing or out altogether he is actually a real hand brake to this team.
Go to commentsA 20pt messy win is about what I expected. Lots of media & fans not reading the room imo. I think the Azzuri were hoping to ambush a 2nd string ABs & may well have done so. Eking out an ugly win is definitely a sign of growth. 2025 looks exciting.
Also, AUS has only beaten ENG of note. They need to show up v SCO & IRE to get a proper gauge. Beating WAL three times doesn't count. Also, winning one test from six in TRC is useless. So TRC2025 will be the real litmus test for AUS. That said, I'm rooting for our SH brothers for the next two tests.
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