Izzy fires Giants win

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Israel Folau has shown his future may be at full forward for Greater Western Sydney after the league convert booted four goals in the Giant's 41-point NEAFL victory over Queanbeyan at Blacktown on Saturday.

Folau has spent much of his first six NEAFL games playing a defensive role for the Giants, but switched down the other end for this Round 7 clash he responded by booting a 40-metre set shot during the second quarter, before snapping truly two minutes later.

Folau finished with four for the match, posted through two strong contested marks, a good lead and his snap as he combined effectively with Adam Flagg, who booted five in the Giants' third win of the season.

"We had a win today," Giants coach Kevin Sheedy told 3AW radio.

"We won by six goals, Israel Folau kicked four and things are looking very, very good there."

"We played Queanbeyan and it was pretty tight early but we broke away and held that lead for most of the game."

Stories have circulated over the last few weeks that former Queensland Origin star Folau was disappointed by how he was going with the Giants and may be looking to switch back to NRL.

Folau has denied this, but even if it were accurate, the forward move from Sheedy may just have done the youngster's confidence a world of good, especially after he was mobbed by his team-mates following that first goal.

"It was always going to be like that when he kicked his first goal," assistant coach Brett Hand told the Giants website.

"They were always going to get around him. I think it-s a sense of relief for all the boys, they know how hard he's been working to get to this stage."

"It just shows how close this group is. He's come together as a part of this and is a very big part of the group. It's not just a one-person team."

While the signs have been good for GWS, Sheedy knows there is still plenty of work ahead.

However, the former Essendon coach denied he was overly concerned by the task ahead, despite seeing fellow new boys Gold Coast struggle over the season's first two months.

Instead, Sheedy believes that the Suns' massive first-up loss to top four side Carlton may have hit the club's confidence a little art the worst possible time.

"I mean 12 months ago Richmond had a shock loss didn't they (and they struggled to recover)," Sheedy said.

"So it can happen to a club who's been around 100 years or a club that's been around 100 minutes."

"I think we just come to conclusions too early," he added.

"Most of the senior players from the Gold Coast needed to get some games under their belt for they missed a bit of the practice match series and I think in the end, young players, they get confidence so quickly (and) that's a very, very good sign."

"Essendon in '93, when they started winning a couple of games, young people can really go on with it."

"And I think they've (Gold Coast) been marvellous. I think they've done a great job the coaching staff and their young players."

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