Israel Folau has confronted questions over his new rugby league club's vulgar and homophobic team song.
Folau has been sponsored by mining magnate and politician Clive Palmer to make his return to rugby league with the Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast's local A-grade competition, pending the approval of the QRL.
But at his unveiling alongside Palmer this morning, the controversial sports figure who caused outrage over was sacked by Rugby Australia due to a series of homophobic social media posts, was grilled by journalists about the Tigers' questionable team song.
The victory chant includes the lyrics "we want lesbians on our faces" and is easily found on YouTube.
Folau denied any knowledge of the lyrics, while Palmer denied the song exists and dismissed the line of questioning about it as "a beat-up".
"I've just signed with the club. I have no idea what the song is," Folau said.
"I've been a player – been there for 50 years – and I haven't heard it," Palmer added.
"It sounds like a beat-up. I just don't think it's true.
"I've played for the Tigers. I was in the dressing room last Sunday, and they weren't singing any songs then. I think it's sensationalism."
The Southport Tigers lost last week, which may explain why no team song was sung then.
Folau is believed to be plotting his return to the NRL after coming back to Australia following a stint in Europe with Catalans Dragons.
His Super League journey ended prematurely when he decided to return to Australia for family reasons, despite being contracted for another year.
His path to the NRL remains murky however with Folau facing several hurdles to get registered.
There was a huge public backlash over the St George Illawarra Dragons' reportedly showing interest in signing him on a million-dollar deal earlier this year, leading to their pursuit of him being abandoned.
Folau had a successful NRL career from 2007-2010, playing almost 100 games for the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, with five State of Origin appearances for Queensland and eight caps for the Kangaroos.
He then made a shock big money switch to AFL with GWS Giants, which was largely a failure, before turning his back on a return to league in favour of a second code switch to rugby union.
He began his rugby union career in 2013 with the NSW Waratahs and quickly became a genuine international star, and one of the biggest names in the Wallabies squad.
But in 2019 he had his multi-million-dollar Rugby Australia contract torn up following repeated breaches in the form of offensive, homophobic social media posts.
Folau claimed he was unlawfully sacked and took legal action seeking $14 million in damages. Later that year he and RA reached a confidential settlement in their dispute over his controversial social media posts.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwEWt2uHcLI/
Now on the Gold Coast in an attempt to play in a lower grade rugby league competition, Folau said he had "no regrets" about any of his posts in recent years.
"No regrets at all in life," Folau said.
"I believe from my faith in God, that everything happens for a reason, it's there for a purpose and I'm so thankful for what I've gone through, because it's brought me a lot closer to God.
"I wouldn't change anything.
"I believe what the Bible says, and it's clear. I didn't write the Bible, that's God's written word, and I believe it wholeheartedly."
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