Is Folau a Modern-Day Eric Liddell?
He’s only played one game since being dumped by the Wallabies for paraphrasing a passage from the Bible but, according to Fox Sports, Israel Folau is already being feted as the top contender to take out Super League’s Man of Steel. Lee Radford, the coach for Hull, said recently:
He’s an absolute talent, he could be Man of Steel.
He’s multi-talented, at league, union, AFL, you can tell he’s played AFL by how he jumps, he jumps like Michael Jordan.
While following Christ doesn’t necessarily guarantee success in every endeavour in life, Folau’s example is strikingly similar to that Eric Liddell, of whom the classic Chariots of Fire is based. Both men refused to compromise their Biblical convictions when the world around them was pressuring them to compromise and cave. And just like Liddell, the Lord has honoured their courage and faith.
In the penultimate scene in the movie, Liddell is approached by the American athlete Jackson Scholz, who hands him a slip of paper with a verse from 1 Samuel 2:30. It read, “He who honours Me, I will honour.” It was a timely word since Liddell was competing in the 400 meters rather than the 100 meters—of which he held the world record for thirty-five-years—because the heats were on the Lord’s Day which went again his conscience.
But not only did Liddell win the race, he also broke the Olympic Record, a truly staggering achievement for an event he hadn’t really trained for.
However, the passage from 1 Samuel 2:30 is worth quoting in full. Because the second half of the verse reads, “Those who honour Me I will honour, but those who despise Me will be disdained.” This is where both men—Liddell and Folau—fear God more than man.
Whether or not Folau continues to win sporting accolades doesn’t really matter for the approval that he is seeking is from above (see Matthew 25:23; Galatians 1:10). But he is a wonderful example of what it means to be faithful in a culture that is increasingly hostile to the message of Christ.
[Photos: Laurent Selles (4 February 2020); unknown (19 July 1924) / Wikimedia Commons]3 Comments
Leave A Comment
Recent Articles:
12 February 2026
4.5 MINS
Barnaby Joyce defends his defection to One Nation, warning of economic collapse, mass migration pressures and political “sanitisation,” pledging to restore conservative principles and national resilience.
12 February 2026
5.4 MINS
Robbie Katter’s motion to overturn the Queensland parliament ban on abortion debate has failed, but not before one LNP MP sensationally voted against his party due to his pro-life convictions.
12 February 2026
3 MINS
A young law student’s unexpected conversion abroad set him on a lifelong path of faith, law and public advocacy — culminating in his decision to stand for Family First.
12 February 2026
6.4 MINS
After losing his mother, the author reflects on death’s ugliness, God’s sovereignty over our days, the refining power of grief, and the unshakable Christian hope of resurrection.
12 February 2026
5.1 MINS
Encouraging Christians to build strong families, exploring some biblical foundations, and re-engaging with culture with a hopeful, faith-centred vision for family life.
11 February 2026
8 MINS
Andrew Hastie’s vote on the antisemitism bill is defended as principled pragmatism—achieving the least harmful outcome, protecting core freedoms, and showing real political courage amid misinformed backlash.
11 February 2026
3.6 MINS
A personal journey of faith, loss and responsibility that reshaped one man’s priorities—and compelled him to step forward into public service for future generations.
Magnificent story. Great article
Israel Folau and Margaret Court- heroes of our time and nation in more ways than one.
Good article, the big difference is christianity was embraced more in Liddells day not as much angst and vitriol. Nonetheless they both stood strong which is your Point.