Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart says the club is "punching its
head against a brick wall" in negotiations with the NRL over
Israel Folau and warns the game risks missing out on the
superstar if decisions aren't made quickly.
After Folau announced at the start of the month he was
leaving the AFL, Stuart said the former Test and Queensland
Origin back remained anxious to sign with the Eels, but that
red tape was still getting in the way.
The NRL must give the green light to Folau's return to the
code before any contract can be ratified, just like rugby
convert Sonny Bill Williams' Sydney Roosters deal is yet to
be rubber-stamped by officials at Rugby League Central.
Stuart said the saga has dragged on to the point where he can
no longer be directly involved and he's leaving negotiations
to club chief executive Ken Edwards.
"I said early in the piece that we'll move heaven and earth
to get Izzy to the club because that's where he wants to
play. He's come out and said that, he's from here, he's got a
number of close mates here, but we're doing that and it's
been a long time so I really don't know where it's going to
end up," said Stuart on Wednesday.
"But I can't concentrate on that any more ... all my energy
and responsibility has to be put into the team here."
Stuart said no deal had been done between Folau and the Eels
and he wanted to distance himself from the specifics of the
negotiations between the club and the NRL.
But he was adamant the NRL, who is yet to appoint a CEO,
needed to make a swift decision on Folau's status.
"It'd be disappointing for him to go to another code," he
said.
"... I've just being working hard as the club has with the
league to have him play here but we seem to be just punching
our heads against a brick wall.
"We're trying to do the right thing by the game and by the
league in being transparent ... it would be just nice to get
people in positions to make decisions.
"I just know it's getting quite boring and tedious in terms
of taking so long, I just wish someone could make a decision,
say yes or no and then we can move on."
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