Izzy - Did the Storm Create a Monster Sell-Out???
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:42 pm
I've just been thinking this since Izzy made his debut for GWS a few weeks ago. Did the Storm create a monster and a sell-out way back in 2007 with Israel Folau?
Let's start - Izzy was basically unknown in the pre-season of 2006-07 and made his debut for the club at 17 years and 347 days (according to the Storm's website - as he is the youngest ever player to pull on a Storm jersey) in Round 1, 2007 vs Wests Tigers at Olympic Park. He had a reasonably quiet debut until he scored a terrific first try that won the Storm the game if I can recall (also I think the only reason he debuted that day was because Zappa was out injured). This event would eventually have him cement his spot in the Storm's line-up for the next two years. For the rest of 2007, he arguably had the best ever debut season in the history of the NRL - amassing a total of 21 tries (which remains a club record for the Storm and the most tries in a debut season in the NRL) in 27 games for the Storm that year and winning the NRL Rookie of the Year award. Bellyache then moved Izzy into the centres before the finals and he would play in the Storm's winning 2007 GF side. He remained in the centre position for pretty much the rest of his NRL career. Izzy then played for AUS in the post season test that year.
In 2008, Izzy announced he was defecting to Brisbane for four years starting in 2009. He played in the ANZAC test and would also end up playing for QLD and scoring an amazing leaping try over Storm team mate and NSW winger Anthony Quinn. Meanwhile, his Storm season was less successful than his debut year as he would only score 15 tries in 25 games and would play in the Storm's losing GF side that year. Izzy then played for AUS in the 2008 World Cup.
He then went to Brisbane and over two seasons, would score 37 tries in 39 games for the Broncos and remain in the QLD and AUS (he wouldn't play for Australia after the 2009 ANZAC test though) sides while at Brisbane. However, the Broncos would only make the preliminary finals in '09 (losing to the Storm) and would miss the finals in '10. Izzy announced in mid-2010 that he was defecting to the AFL and joining GWS in their first season in 2012, walking out of his four year deal.
Just over five years ago this unknown teenage winger was making his first grade debut for the Storm, then over five years later he is playing in the AFL for GWS (barely getting any possesion). What would have happened if Zappa Turner wasn't injured at the start of '07 - would Izzy have cracked first grade for the Storm? Did the Storm create a sell-out who ended up chasing the big dollars in another code? What will happen to Izzy if he fails in the AFL?
What are everyone's thoughts on this?
Let's start - Izzy was basically unknown in the pre-season of 2006-07 and made his debut for the club at 17 years and 347 days (according to the Storm's website - as he is the youngest ever player to pull on a Storm jersey) in Round 1, 2007 vs Wests Tigers at Olympic Park. He had a reasonably quiet debut until he scored a terrific first try that won the Storm the game if I can recall (also I think the only reason he debuted that day was because Zappa was out injured). This event would eventually have him cement his spot in the Storm's line-up for the next two years. For the rest of 2007, he arguably had the best ever debut season in the history of the NRL - amassing a total of 21 tries (which remains a club record for the Storm and the most tries in a debut season in the NRL) in 27 games for the Storm that year and winning the NRL Rookie of the Year award. Bellyache then moved Izzy into the centres before the finals and he would play in the Storm's winning 2007 GF side. He remained in the centre position for pretty much the rest of his NRL career. Izzy then played for AUS in the post season test that year.
In 2008, Izzy announced he was defecting to Brisbane for four years starting in 2009. He played in the ANZAC test and would also end up playing for QLD and scoring an amazing leaping try over Storm team mate and NSW winger Anthony Quinn. Meanwhile, his Storm season was less successful than his debut year as he would only score 15 tries in 25 games and would play in the Storm's losing GF side that year. Izzy then played for AUS in the 2008 World Cup.
He then went to Brisbane and over two seasons, would score 37 tries in 39 games for the Broncos and remain in the QLD and AUS (he wouldn't play for Australia after the 2009 ANZAC test though) sides while at Brisbane. However, the Broncos would only make the preliminary finals in '09 (losing to the Storm) and would miss the finals in '10. Izzy announced in mid-2010 that he was defecting to the AFL and joining GWS in their first season in 2012, walking out of his four year deal.
Just over five years ago this unknown teenage winger was making his first grade debut for the Storm, then over five years later he is playing in the AFL for GWS (barely getting any possesion). What would have happened if Zappa Turner wasn't injured at the start of '07 - would Izzy have cracked first grade for the Storm? Did the Storm create a sell-out who ended up chasing the big dollars in another code? What will happen to Izzy if he fails in the AFL?
What are everyone's thoughts on this?