Quotes from Israel Folau

I want to be clear that I only share passages from the Bible as a gesture of love.

Playing at fullback it's part of your role to get up and take those high balls.

I get excited when the ball goes up in the air. I try to always get up there... I get a buzz out of it.

As Christians, we must be strong.

First and foremost, I live for God now. His plans for me are better than whatever I can think.

My two younger brothers play football as well and they are obviously pretty talented and my two older brothers like to sing and I obviously can't do that.

I got caught up in all the party things and I guess I'd say my head was above the clouds.

I totally understand everyone else's view. They are obviously different to mine and I respect that but what I don't want to do is compromise what I believe in.

All the materialistic things I have been able to have over the last number of years are slowly being taken away from me. It's been really challenging but also it's been encouraging to myself to see what my God is actually doing.

My faith is what defines me as a person, that is who I am.

I think probably all of my determination and eagerness to want to play professional sport came from my family.

If I had my time over I'd probably not get any tattoos.

I get a huge excitement from seeing the other guys cross the line. It really is a team game rugby, so if we are getting points on the board I am still very happy.

Just my relationship with people - my teammates, my family, my partner everything. I don't really know how to explain it, it's just a peaceful feeling inside.

My principle and my faith is what is driving me from the get-go.

True believers in Christ, are we going to follow through and profess Him wherever we go?

There are different reasons why I wanted to try AFL - some of them family reasons and others were more personal ones.

I've just got to be a little bit cautious with my technique and all that sort of stuff, going into tackles. But I'm not going to change the way that I go into it. I'm going to be aggressive.

Coming to the Waratahs was the first time I felt I gained some independence. I was telling my parents I had to go out on my own, and learn and grow, and if I made mistakes, then so be it.

No Australian of any faith should be fired for practising their religion.

If I am playing the game freely, and those opportunities come up to cross the line, then I get enjoy that a lot. But when I try to force things, I am not playing my best footy.

League was everything to me, I put that in front of God, and He took me away from that to go to AFL.

I'm thankful I have my faith.

We used to do a lot of kick-catch work with Carlton, and it really taught us some great skills catching above our heads, off our chest. Those things I've carried throughout my career and I'm really thankful I got the opportunity to learn that.