Folau close to AFL switch
01/06/10 06:56 AM
Queensland State of Origin star Israel Folau is reportedly set to quit rugby league and announce a lucrative switch to the AFL this week.

The Broncos star last week rejected an offer to join the new Melbourne rugby union franchise, and time has lapsed on his option to re-sign with Brisbane in the NRL.

Media reports suggest Folau will officially sign with the new Greater Western Sydney side by the end of the week, and could make an announcement as early as Tuesday.

Folau would follow the footsteps of former Broncos and Maroons team-mate Karmichael Hunt, who is expected to play his first VFL match for Gold Coast next month.

On Monday, Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss aimed a missive at the AFL's newest franchises and slammed the amount of money being spent on poaching rugby league stars.

Voss says the reportedly lucrative contracts offered to Hunt and Folau are upsetting and AFL players have the right to feel insulted.

"The people that need to be paid that advertise our game more than anyone else are the current players that play AFL," he said.

"Because they are the ones that have put in the hard work to get the game where it is today.

"So that's where I sit with that."

Source: ABC