BRISBANE, 29 JUNE 2021 (STUFF NZ) – Controversial code-hopper Israel Folau has been officially released from his French rugby league club and could make his Australian return to action this weekend.
The Catalans Dragons confirmed the former Wallabies, Aussie Rules and NRL star was now free to play elsewhere and Folau, 32, is set to start a reported $270,000 a season deal with the Southport Tigers where his two brothers play.
His first game is likely to be against Currumbin on Saturday in the Gold Coast competition.
Backed by billionaire Clive Palmer, who is paying his wages, Folau launched Supreme Court legal action against the Queensland Rugby League earlier this month when they refused to register his Southport deal until he was released by Catalans.
Folau has claimed his Catalans contract was no longer valid after they failed to pay him when he returned to Australia on compassionate leave.
Folau went to France in 2020 after his lucrative contract with Australian Rugby was terminated following a series of homophobic social media messages.
Folau played 15 games for Catalan Dragons, scoring five tries, in a dela reported to be worth $265,000 a year.
