A red Sherrin mysteriously appeared at Brisbane's training headquarters on Thursday as Israel Folau's NRL team-mates did their best to embarrass the AFL's latest millionaire.

Howls of laughter swept across the training field at Red Hill when Sam Thaiday climbed up on Folau's back to take a mock mark.

Team-mates then tried to coerce the 21 year-old to kick the Sherrin between the goal posts.

"Take a snap Izzy," urged one player as others kicked the red leather ball around the ground.

Try as they may, Folau would not put his boot to the AFL ball before coach Ivan Henjak finally called a halt to the frivolity to get his players focussed on the more serious task of preparing for Sunday's tough NRL clash with Manly at Brookvale Oval.

Brisbane skipper Darren Lockyer dug the Sherrin out of a cupboard and pumped it up himself, knowing it would help break the ice with Folau and the players.

It worked.

Brisbane did a similar thing last year at training when fullback Karmichael Hunt signed his big AFL deal with the Gold Coast.

Late in Henjak's session, when the bombs were being hoisted skywards by Lockyer and Peter Wallace, Folau showed just why big-spending AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney believe he will be more than a publicity ticket, launching himself above the pack to take some spectacular two-handed grabs.

Again his team mates let him have it, one shouting out: "up there Israely, make Sheeds (GWS coach Kevin Sheedy) proud."

A slightly embarrassed Folau - reportedly $4-6 million dollars richer - took it all in his stride, laughing at the digs and happily wearing the wise cracks.

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