THREE-code football star Israel Folau has opened up on why he quit the AFL and the confrontation he had with his father when he made the decision to leave his high-paying contract with GWS.

Folau, who ended up in rugby union after leaving the Giants at the end of 2012, will play his 59th Test for the Wallabies on Saturday against Argentina in Canberra.

But the journey to get back to the football he wanted to play was a tough one for the 28-year-old because of the responsibilities he felt being part of a tight-knit Polynesian family.

“There are three pillars to Polynesian life: family, faith and finances. They’re all connected,” Folau said, writing for the new sports platform, playersvoice.com.au.

Round 18

Folau has previously spoken of how he switched codes for both family and financial reasons, but on Saturday he revealed more about the tough conversations he had with his dad, Eni Folau, as he became increasingly frustrated about his shift from the NRL to the AFL.

“After two years at the Giants, I wasn’t happy. The money didn’t mean anything to me anymore,” Folau said.

“I missed league and was sick and tired of doing everything for other people. So I told my dad I’d had enough.

“Yes, I was worried that the Polynesian community would think I had rebelled, but I just really wanted out of the AFL. Not at the end of my contract. Immediately.

Folau struggled to make the transition from league to AFL. Source: News Limited

“It was difficult and scary and contrary to everything I had done in my life to that point.

“I won’t go into the full detail of the arguments that followed — that’s between dad and me — but let’s just say the conversation went back and forward for quite a while.

“So I summoned up all the bravery I could, looked him in the eye and told him again, ‘I’m leaving the Giants.’ And he finally said, ‘OK.’

“It was the first time in my life I felt free.”

Telling his dad he was ditching the Sherrin was especially tough for Folau because his father was the one who encouraged him to sign with the Giants, saying he could help a lot of people with the amount of money he was being offered by the Sydney club.

“I didn’t want to be the son that was selfish and arrogant and let his family down. So I did what my dad wanted me to do and signed,” Folau said.

“It was probably the most important moment of my life.”