Israel Folau’s former AFL coach Kevin Sheedy has defended the character of the NSW Waratahs recruit, saying he is one of the more honest people he’s dealt with in his 45-year career.

Folau has copped fierce criticism this week for not signing with NRL club Parramatta after they helped secure his release from the AFL, with coach Ricky Stuart saying his side would be “genuinely better off without him”.

However, the Greater Western Sydney Giants coach said on Tuesday he had no problem with Folau’s character as he was always upfront and honest.

“I actually admired him for that,” Sheedy said.

“So from my point of view as a person, and I’ve been around the game for 45 years, I think Israel Folau is one of the (more) honest people I have actually ever dealt with,” Sheedy said.

“I am glad that when he felt that AFL wasn’t his game in the end that he actually told us the facts and let us get on about our business which is what I think is a fair thing to do.”

However, Sheedy said Folau’s switch to rugby union hadn’t been in his landscape of thinking.

“Obviously everything was pointing towards the Parramatta Eels,” he said.

“But he puts himself in the direction of Karmichael Hunt now as a player of all three codes. It’s a pretty good effort.”

Sheedy said he had no regrets signing Folau, labelling the move as one of AFL’s best marketing strategies.

“From our point of view, (it was) one of the best marketing exercises since Tina Turner singing ‘Simply the Best’ with the NRL,” he said.