Michael Cheika has shrugged off suggestions that Waratahs stars Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale are vulnerable to offers to defect to the NRL (Rugby League) as the Waratahs build towards what looks to be a sold-out Semi-Final in Sydney next weekend.
After a week in which the minor premiers’ biggest names were linked to moves to Rugby League, the Waratahs confirmed late on Thursday that more than half of the 43,500 seats at Allianz Stadium had been sold just a day after tickets went on general sale.
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Michael Cheika
Less than 20,000 remained more than nine days out from the match. Club officials are hoping to sell out as early as this weekend.
The figure was on track to eclipse the Waratahs’ biggest crowd at the stadium this year, just two weeks after 24,500 turned out to watch the Waratahs beat the Highlanders to claim the minor premiership.
But despite claiming all he cared about was the side’s looming semi-final, the Waratahs coach was peppered with questions about the future of two of his biggest names.
The Waratahs coach said talks to keep Beale at the Waratahs were “headed in the right direction” and joked about suggestions the NRL was courting dual international Folau.
“It was quality photography, that’s for sure,” Cheika said, referring to a happy snap of Folau and his agent Isaac Moses meeting with NRL head of football Todd Greenberg at Azure Cafe at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday. See Rugby-Talk story “Izzie staying or Izzie going”
Israel Folau says he is happy playing in Australia but can understand why players might want to take up offers overseas and still be available for Test selection
With Folau on contract until after next year’s Rugby World Cup and lucrative offers from European rugby clubs likely to tempt the talented fullback more powerfully than a return to the NRL, Cheika was also unconcerned about speculation that Beale may be headed to the Bulldogs next year.
“I think Beale has had a further chat with the Australian Rugby Union now, so it’s headed in the right direction,” he said.
“I’m never comfortable with any signatures until they’re on the paper, and even then you have to worry sometimes.”
“I’m clear on how the negotiation between Beale and the ARU works, we’ve definitely had a lot more dialogue in regards to this instance than we had with Kane Douglas, so I’m leaving them to it and getting on with coaching the team.”
Beale has been in terrific form for the Waratahs and Wallabies but was unhappy about being used so little in Australia’s three-Test series against France last month, telling Fairfax Media he would look at his options outside rugby as a result.
But the versatile 42-Test playmaker, who has been used at inside centre as a second five-eighth option for the Waratahs, has appeared nothing but buoyant and contented since the Waratahs locked in top spot on the Super Rugby ladder, laughing and joking around at training during the side’s week off while the qualifying finals are played.
“What I’ve liked about Beale, with all this stuff going on, he’s just kept so level and is training hard and it’s not even bothered him at all, which is very good,” Cheika said.
“It shows a really good state of mind of the player and I think it’s been reflected in his performances. There’s no doubt about it.”
Folau did not train with his teammates on Thursday, hitting the gym instead with winger Rob Horne.
But Cheika said there were no concerns about either player’s fitness, with both expected to re-join the main squad on Friday.
“They’re all fine those guys, he and Rob Horne worked on Wednesday, they’ll be back Friday and Paddy Ryan and Peter Betham will be back on Monday,” he said.
The Waratahs must wait until the weekend to learn who they will face in the knock-out semi-final next weekend, but their coach was wasting no time at training, putting the squad through a rigorous contact session.
“If we stay still we won’t win,” Cheika said.
“We have to improve our game, and you can do that. There are small improvements you can make in these next nine days that will help us be a better team on Saturday no matter who the opponent is. Because whoever plays us it’s going to be really difficult.”