Former hard man Greg Dowling has joined a chorus of passionate ex-maroon players calling for AFL defector Israel Folau to be dumped from Queensland's Origin team.
An enforcer for Australia and Queensland during the rough and tough 1980s, Dowling didn't pull any punches as debate raged about whether selectors should pick the 21 year-old giant for the second game of the series in Brisbane on June 16.
Folau announced on Tuesday he was joining new AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney next year on a reported $6 million deal over four years that would elevate him to one of Australian sport's highest paid athletes playing in a code he's never played before.
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While Queensland coach Mal Meninga expressed his disappointment but stopped short of saying Folau would be dropped, Dowling's reaction was "he had to go".
"Now he's come out and made his intentions public I don't think they should pick him," Dowling told AAP from Mt Isa where he was attending a FOGS Indigenous Expo along with Queensland selector Gene Miles and other maroon greats Allan Langer and Chris "Choppy"
Close.
Dowling even suggested the Broncos should drop Folau.
"I'd definitely leave him out of Queensland's side and I'd even leave him out of the Broncos as well," he said.
"I'm not blaming the kid, none of us are, you've got to take an offer when it's that great, especially when you're 21."
There's no doubt Folau's code swap will polarise opinion on whether he should be selected for Origin's game two when Queensland will attempt to clinch a record fifth straight series win over NSW.
League legend Arthur Beetson has been outspoken about Folau, calling on selectors before game one in Sydney to leave him out of Queensland's team as he weighed up offers from other codes.
Meninga non-committal
However Meninga, who initially shared the same view, intervened and backed Folau's selection.
Meninga was non-committal on Tuesday, refusing to guarantee Folau's position was secure.
"It's shock news and disappointing for our game that Izzy's come to that decision," said a stern-faced Meninga.
He and selectors will allow the hullabaloo surrounding Folau's announcement to settle before having a chat about "what's best for our game".
Meninga went against his 1980 Origin team-mate Beetson in supporting Folau's selection for the first game in Sydney last month.
His view though may have altered with Folau electing to follow former teammate and Gold Coast recruit Karmichael Hunt across to
AFL.
Maroon selectors will mull over whether to dump code jumper Folau on Monday week when they meet to pick a 17-man squad.
But chairman Des Morris said on Tuesday his job, along with co-selectors Miles and Alan Smith, was to pick the best side.
"We're about picking the best possible team for Queensland," he said.
The official line from Queensland Rugby League managing director Ross Livermore was that selectors would maintain their key values and principles when picking their Origin II side.
"Any player registered in the NRL is eligible for representative selection whether that is at Origin or Test level, Livermore said in a statement.
"Loyalty has traditionally played a big part in the selection process.
"In picking the team for Game II of the series, selectors will take into account the form of the players and they will also be mindful of the big picture and the future."
