Feb 13th, 2020

Feb 13th, 2020

Israel Folau will have a Tongan jersey waiting for him if he restrains himself from "crazy" social media posts and returns to peak form in rugby league.

That's the declaration made by Andrew Fifita following Folau's controversial return to the code with Catalans in the Super League this year.

A lack of form and fitness have prevented the former Wallabies star making his anticipated debut with the Dragons so far this season.

However the 30-year-old could finally step onto the park this weekend, marking his first competitive game since having his Rugby Australia deal torn up last May.

Should his form hold, it could result in him playing for Tonga down the track.

Australian rugby player Israel Folau prepares to pass the ball during a training session with his new club Catalan Dragons in Perpignan (AAP)

Mate Ma'a coach Kristian Woolf has already left the door open for Folau to be selected in their next Test pencilled in for June later this year.

And Fifita, who has been a key plank in Tonga's rise as a rugby league powerhouse in recent years, shared the sentiment.

"I welcome anyone. Everyone needs to be forgiven," he said on Thursday.

But it comes with a couple of conditions.

"Everyone needs to be forgiven and as long as he stays... (he) can't come out with those crazy posts again," Fifita said.

"I'm all for God as well but in saying that, everyone in life deserves to be happy.

Fifita says he is willing to forgive Folau despite his mutiple indiscretions over the years (Getty)

"When we're talking about gays and lesbians, I got one who's close to me in my sisters, I got family who are also gay and they've got the right to be happy."

There was speculation Folau could have returned for Tonga last year during the bitter war between the Tonga National Rugby League and its players.

However the board were eventually overruled by the world governing body, resulting in a Tongan Invitational team upsetting Australia in November.

"There were a few little loopholes they did to get him available but I'm not going to go into depth there," Fifita said.

"Someone playing centre all year and for him to come straight into a team where he hasn't played league in over 10 years, it's a bit extreme.

"But if he has a really good year, the international jersey would be waiting for him."

©AAP2020