Pushed to the Limit

The Valley rugby team and coach Israel Folau are off to the Northern Territory. But is the team ready to tackle a new environment?

Daniel and Sione can't believe they're in the Top End. On arrival, the boys realise that everything is different – the weather, the culture, the people – and no one seems to play rugby! The team is faced with the temptation to thrash their inexperienced opponents but soon find that winning that way isn't as fun.

Izzy urges the boys to give the newcomers a chance. Will Daniel and Sione be able to surrender the scoreboard for the love of the game?

About the Authors

Israel Folau is one of the world's most exciting Rugby Union stars. Israel began his football career in Rugby League, playing for the Melbourne Storm as a 17 year old and later the Brisbane Broncos. He also represented Queensland in State of Origin and the Australian Kangaroos. After a two year stint in AFL with the Greater Western Sydney Giants, Israel made a highly publicised move to Rugby Union, his third professional sport code, and has since become a key member of both the New South Wales and the Australian Wallabies teams.

In 2014 Israel played an instrumental role in leading the Waratahs to their first ever Super Rugby Championship, leading the competition in tries, offloads and clean breaks. Soon thereafter, in just his second season playing the sport, he cemented his position as Australian Rugby's brightest star by being named the Super Rugby Player of the Year and John Eales Medallist. Izzy has scored a try on debut for every professional team he has ever played for, including the Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Maroons, Australian Kangaroos, NSW Waratahs and Australian Wallabies.

David Harding enjoys writing grinking stories - ones that make kids grin while they think. He is a school teacher who lives and runs in and around Sydney with his wife and two sons. Besides the Israel Folau books, David has written titles in the RSPCA Animal Tales series the Robert Irwin: Dinosaur Hunter series, and has had many short stories and poems published in various collections and The School Magazine.