Qld selectors ponder Folau's Origin role
Queensland selectors will mull over whether to dump code jumper Israel Folau from the rest of rugby league's showpiece State of Origin series, with a backlash certain if he's chosen.
The AFL's 18th club Greater West Sydney was set to confirm Folau's signing on Tuesday afternoon with the 21-year-old understood to have already informed NRL club Brisbane of his plans to leave at the end of the season.
Folau's code swap will polarise opinion on whether he should be selected for game two of the Origin series at Suncorp Stadium on June 16 when Queensland will attempt to clinch a record fifth straight series win over NSW.
League legend Arthur Beetson has already been outspoken about Folau, calling on selectors before game one in Sydney to leave him out of Queensland's team as he weighed offers from other codes.
However Queensland coach Mal Meninga, who initially shared the same view, intervened and backed Folau's selection.
That view may now change given Folau will follow former teammate and Gold Coast recruit Karmichael Hunt across to AFL for a reported $1 million a season for three years to be the face of it's expansion team headed up by coaching great Kevin Sheedy.
Queensland chairman of selectors Des Morris said on Tuesday his job, along with co-selectors Gene Miles and Alan Smith, was to pick the best possible team.
"That's the first I've heard of it but it's certainly something we'll have to think about," Morris told AAP of the pending GWS announcement.
"We're about picking the best possible team for Queensland."
Morris said it was easy for people who didn't have to make the tough calls to make bold declarations.
"It's okay for those people to make those comments, they're not in the position where they have to make those decisions," he said.
"They can say what they like.
"It's one position to be honest."
Morris said he wanted to "get my head around it" before saying too much about Folau.
"We (selectors) will get together as a group and make that decision when the time is right," he said.
While he said he was obligated to pick the best 17 players available on form, he conceded Folau's latest developments could influence his selection.
"It could," he said.
"But the bottom line is he is he is still signed to play in the NRL this season and that's the competition from which we pick players from."
Folau has also earned the wrath of former Queensland and Australia captain Gorden Tallis who on Monday night called on selectors to ban him from selection if he was leaving league.
"If he's going to go, you just put Brent Tate in or you put in a young winger or a young centre," fired Tallis.
"If he does (sign to play AFL) you don't let him play in our showpiece, something that he loves."
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