Stuart: "Folau's our key target"

Pirtek Parramatta Eels head coach Ricky Stuart today fronted the media to answer to all the speculation that surrounds Israel Folau’s future, after yesterday announcing he was quitting AFL.

A local Western Sydney junior, Folau is yet to make a decision on his future in football, code or club. Although Folau has not made it known to the media what code he will be playing in season 2013, Stuart is confident that it will be rugby league and it will be at the Eels.

“It’s a great thing for Rugby League that Israel Folau is coming back to Rugby League.
“Really for us, we’re fortunate, fortunate of the fact that he’s a Western Sydney boy, he’s a local product, he’s grown up in the area and I just see it as being a great fit for Parramatta.” Stuart said.

Stuart is confident that Folau will be able to adapt back to the playing style of ‘The Greatest Game of All’ swiftly and easily, and with a full pre-season under his belt will realize even greater potential in the sport.

“He’s young enough, he was a representative player, he achieved so much in the game before he’d left… He’d won Grand Finals, played (for) Queensland and Australia… He hasn’t reached the pinnacle of his career yet in Rugby League.”

Click play to watch the video.