The two football codes were at war yesterday over the AFL's luring of Folau to its newest entity, Greater Western Sydney.

The 21-year-old confirmed yesterday he will defect to the AFL, and instantly become arguably the competition's highest paid player.

The Australian, Queensland and Brisbane Broncos league star has signed a four-year deal with GWS, which enters the AFL in 2012, worth between $4 million and $6 million.

"If I stayed in rugby league or even if I went to rugby union I would be getting paid well," Folau said.

"Money was not the end factor in my decision, it was the opportunity that came up."

NRL boss David Gallop accused the AFL of manipulating its rules to sign Folau.

Folau follows another former Bronco Karmichael Hunt, who will play for the Gold Coast in the AFL, in switching codes.

"Obviously this is a very, very big punt by the AFL," said Gallop.

"It's a huge amount of money to spend on one player."

Folau's conversion "can only throw out of whack their draft and cap system", Gallop said of the AFL.

He questioned how the AFL could preach talent equalisation and salary parity when they "have a player come from the outside on such a massive amount of money".

"They have manipulated it again today in a way where I think other clubs in the AFL would be scratching their heads," Gallop said.

While GWS coach Kevin Sheedy cast Folau in a likely key forward role, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said he crossed codes with no guarantee of success.

"Our expectation for Israel Folau, and Karmichael Hunt for that matter, is not an expectation of them succeeding quickly," Demetriou said.

"They are a long-term investment and I can see these guys taking quite a while to adjust to our game, it would be a natural thing."

Outspoken Brisbane AFL forward Brendan Fevola said the size of Folau's contract was insulting. "It's a lot of money to throw at a player who has not played footy before," Fevola said.

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