Israel Folau at Wallabies training at Ballymore. Pic Jono Searle. Source: Jonathon Searle / News Limited
FORMER Kangaroo and Wallaby Wendell Sailor is tipping Israel Folau will wind up as the greatest dual international of the professional era.
In Sailor's opinion, English 2003 Rugby World Cup winger Jason Robinson and Sydney Roosters juggernaut Sonny Bill Williams, who hoisted the Webb Ellis Cup with the All Blacks in 2011, presently share the mantle.
Roosters Sonny Bill Williams celebrates his team's grand final victory with the crowd. Source: News Limited
But after watching Folau equal Lote Tuqiri's all-time record for most Wallabies tries in a calendar year during a spectacular 15-Test debut season, Sailor thinks the 24-year-old will have Robinson and SBW covered by the end of his career.
Tuqiri, Sailor and fellow rugby league convert Mat Rogers played a total of 149 Tests and amassed 57 tries, but Sailor says Folau has already eclipsed all three as Australia's premier dual international.
"I think Israel, he's mixed a bit of everything," Sailor said.
"He's taken what Lote's done, what I've done, Mat Rogers ... and Israel even though he's a by-product of that, I just think Israel's taken it to a new level now.
"Jason Robinson, Sonny Bill has been good, but I think he can nearly be better than all of those guys.
"He's only 24 or 25 or something. He can probably go to a whole new level." Folau remains the youngest player, at 18, to represent Australia in a rugby league Test and scored on debut for both the Kangaroos and the Wallabies, collecting a memorable double against the touring British and Irish Lions in Melbourne this year.
Sailor attributes the code-hopper's tough two-year stint in the AFL with Greater Western Sydney for his rapid rise in rugby. "Just his confidence, I think going to AFL has helped him because from league he was at the heights of his stuff and then when you go to AFL you have to learn new stuff," he said.
Israel Folau at a Wallabies training session at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Pic Peter Wallis Source: News Limited
"And he was in reserve grade a bit and getting ripped into a bit about not being that good at that level.
"I think it just shows that hunger.
"His switch (to rugby) was amazing. They were playing against the British lions - that can't be easy to do, but he was our best player and was nearly the best player through the series.
"I'd like to see him come back to league at some stage, but (after) a few more years in rugby and I'm happy he's going well because I know he got kicked a bit when he went to AFL and he showed what a class act he is."
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