“Welcome to SPECTRE Mr. Bond, if you’ll just sign here and here”

Speculation is rife in Australian rugby as to whether Israel Folau might be returning to the NRL. Folau and his agent was spotted meeting with the Head of the NRL, Todd Greenberg. In what can almost be described as a plot to a spy thriller, photos were snapped and keyboards frantically clicked to rush the story into print.

At the same time, uncertainty remain about the future of Kurtley Beale, and whether he too might be heading to the NRL.

Do the Waratahs need all this speculation about two of their star players only one week shy of hosting a semi final in this year’s Super Rugby Tournament?

ARU boss Bill Pulver says he is “not dissatisfied” with the departures of several high-profile players this year.

Amid speculation 42-Test Wallaby Kurtley Beale could be on the cusp of signing with NRL club the Bulldogs, Pulver sought to play down the looming loss of Beale’s former Test teammates Kane Douglas, Nick Cummins and Ben Mowen.

Speculation is rife regarding Kurtley Beale and his possible move to the NRL

“It is a fact of life that Japan and France have a lot of money to throw at players, but actually we’re quietly pleased with the support that we’ve had for our elite players playing in Australia,” he said.

“Yes, we’ve lost a couple, but every year we’ve lost a couple or more, so we’re not unhappy with the outcome. Clearly there are a couple of players we would have liked to have kept and from a strategic development perspective that’s something we want to keep a very careful eye on. But we’re not dissatisfied with the outcome this year.”

Beale is expected to announce his plans for next year in coming weeks, as the Waratahs navigate the knockout stages of this year’s Super Rugby season. Pulver said he would not try to second-guess Beale’s decision but hoped he would stay.

“We’re in a dialogue right now with Kurtley and his manager, I’m not going to try to second-guess the outcome, I can just tell you that I think he’s had a wonderful year, played some great great rugby and we’d love to keep him,” he said.

Pulver also responded to fierce criticism from Western Force coach Michael Foley, who said the ARU had been “caught with its pants down” over the departure of Force and Wallabies winger Cummins halfway through his contract.

“Well, actually Foley didn’t say that, he said that Australian rugby was caught with its pants down, and I’m not too sure I even agree with that remark,” Pulver said.

“Nick Cummins has been quite vocal about his reasons for going, it’s clear that there’s a substantial financial game for him, he has a truly unique set of family circumstances and we respect his judgment on that.”

Although Pulver might be saying one thing in public, one must wonder what is being said in private, especially after a meeting held on Wednesday between Israel Folau and NRL Head Todd Greenberg?

If Israel Folau returns to the game that made him famous, this could be the moment the move was hatched.

The Wallabies star and his manager, Isaac Moses, were spotted in discussions with the NRL’s head of football, Todd Greenberg, at the Azure Cafe at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday. The mid-morning meeting at the Moore Park precinct went for about 40 minutes, although Folau excused himself halfway through.

Greenberg made no secret of his desire to lure Folau to Canterbury when he was chief executive of the “Family Club”. The surprise catchup – held just one win shy of a historic home Super Rugby final for the Waratahs – suggests Greenberg still wants Folau back in the 13-man code in his new role at Rugby League Central.

The development comes amid suggestions another Wallaby star, Kurtley Beale, is almost a done deal to switch to the Bulldogs at the end of the season. Beale, off contract at the end of the year, is also managed by Moses.

Head office was more a hindrance than a help the last time Folau was negotiating a return to rugby league. Parramatta almost got their man about 18 months ago, only for the process to be scuppered by red tape. The former Greater Western Sydney Giant came onto the market at late notice after his failed AFL stint. The NRL’s delays in rubber-stamping a heavily back-ended deal ultimately cost the code the signature of Folau, who has subsequently become the best and most marketable commodity on the ARU’s books.

League officials played down the significance of the meeting, saying it was a chance encounter. Greenberg said he mentioned his birthday when the pair crossed paths and the Minto product offered to buy him a coffee.

“Mr Greenberg ran into Israel Folau, who he knows well, while heading to the coffee shop and they had an unplanned catch up,” a NRL spokesman said.

“It was not a business discussion.”

But given Folau was accompanied by Moses, the latter spotted a long way from his agency’s Homebush Bay headquarters, the meeting is likely to set off alarm bells in the corridors of the ARU.
In an interview with Fairfax Media before his transition to head office last year, Greenberg said: “Putting my NRL hat on, I’d love to see Israel play rugby league.

“In my current role I’d like to see that happen at the Bulldogs. He would be wonderful playing rugby league again and the decision is his. We’ll be doing everything we can to entice him here and to play our game, but that’s his decision.”

There are no shortages of league suitors should Folau come onto the open market. Parramatta are keen for another crack and hope the presence of younger brother John in their squad could give them an edge. The Roosters will also be in the hunt and will have some salary cap space available after the defection of Sonny Bill Williams back to rugby. Melbourne, where Folau’s professional career began, shapes as another potential destination. While the cross-code star has previously played at Brisbane, a return to Red Hill is unlikely given Anthony Milford will join a star-studded backline that already boasts Ben Barba at fullback.