At a press conference on Tuesday to promote the October 14 Test Match between Australia and New Zealand, Kiwi head coach Stephen Kearney was asked if Sonny Bill Williams should be allowed to play in the NRL competition next year, considering he may not be available for the World Cup in 2013.
It was tricky question posed at Kearney, but it was his answer that set tongues wagging: “Sonny’s Japanese rugby union contract this year does not start until October 20, so maybe we’ll run him out here.”
At first glance, the wink that accompanied the comment suggested that Kearney was joking.
Yet the reporters at the conference, quite rightfully, wouldn’t let the issue go, and when pressed further, Kearney stated:
“It would be nice to trot him out, wouldn’t it? Nah, nah. I was joking. I don’t have any information. You asked the Sonny Bill question and I just threw that out there. But I might check it out.”
So it seems even Kearney, mid-rebuttal, realised that it’s a topic that is sure to now be raised. And so the question becomes, is it feasible that Sonny Bill Williams could play in the October 14 Test Match in Townsville?
Why not?
As Kearney pointed out, Williams will not have commenced his Japanese rugby contract, and his New Zealand Rugby Union commitments will have also been fulfilled. That essentially means that Sonny Bill will be a free agent, and could therefore technically be ‘signed’ on a short term contract by New Zealand Rugby League.
How short term? Try one game: the October Test Match.
To the best of my knowledge, there would be nothing illegal about the arrangement, and whilst it certainly wouldn’t help Sonny Bill’s reputation of being an athletic mercenary, it would definitely aid promotion of the Test Match.
Considering the Australian Kangaroos poaching of New Zealander James Tamou, the NZRL would love nothing more than to anger their Trans Tasman opponents, and selecting Williams would certainly do that.
It would surely add some spice to the match, and with many pundits claiming international rugby league needs a shot in the arm, I can’t imagine anything else generating more publicity.
Honestly, who cares if it is somewhat of a publicity stunt anyway? It’s not like Joey Johns playing cricket for NSW; Sonny Bill would be a tremendous asset to the Kiwis on the field.
The lead-up to the game would be an avalanche of media, with everyone arguing about the merits of Sonny Bill playing, and the inevitable Australian player’s comments that they don’t care and will aim to ‘smash’ Sonny Bill.
I can hear the criticism and naysayers already, but I honestly can’t see anything wrong with it.
It may be a pipedream, but I encourage the NZRL to give Sonny Bill a call today, and attempt to make it happen.
In fact, the way rugby league’s eligibility laws are these days, maybe Australia should give him a call too?
nrl guru
Guest
sbw is probbaly the best player in the world at both codes, he would walk in to the kiwi team and if he was australian he would walk in to the kangaroos sques any day
nrl guru
Guest
ii beleive that that New Zealand should have their own series of state of origin bbyut with the two mian islands and then the winner of that would play the winner of the state of origin. more money for the nrl
Rugby Is Bigger Than League
Guest
No one is allow to play both games at MAGS, 1st XV games comes first and daylight second in most schools in NZ.
stojo01
Guest
I think you'll find players like Dane and Kurt Sorenson played both league and Union through high school. Glendowie college rocketed up through the C aand B 1st XV competitions while they were there and rocketed down when they left. We had a guy at our high school who would turn out on Saturday sometimes for both league and union (league always got precedence if there was a clash) and then turn around and often play for Auck university on Sunday. I have seen two players for Newington high school in Sydney who play league as well as 1st XV one of them was a player in 16s state of origin and saw him playing for Australia A schools union against Tonga a couple of weeks ago. I'm sure there are a ton of players from Joeys in Sydney who do it. It may not happen at Sacred Heart or Kings or Grammar or St Kents or but MAGS yes and most suburban working class public highs schools you bet regardless of whether it is on the same day. The best will allways play both i've seen it even with the 12s i've never seen some kid happier than when playing 3 games on a weekend.
D Maaga
Roar Rookie
and you have asked everyone in south american and asia have you? the all blacks are the biggest brand in any rugby codes in the world follow by the rugby world cup.
D Maaga
Roar Rookie
mate, if jennings can be selected to play the pinnacle of rugby league from nsw cup anything is possible. wasn't there guys been selected for the kiwis while playing reserve grades and under 20's in the past which pretty much go against your wishful thinking?
Go warriors
Guest
D Maaga forget about it. He will not be playing in the test. Even if he was available the Kiwis would not pick him until he has earnt the jersey.
League fan
Guest
Bono maybe I have travelled to different countries to you but in the last few years I have travelled in lived in Sth America, Mexico, Canada, The Usa, Europe and Asia and I can assure you very few people in those countries even know what rugby is let alone who the all blacks are. Not taking anything away from the all blacks, they are fantastic side and deserve all the acolades they get but lets not beat around the bush. We are not fooling anyone if we think they are big on the world stage.
Vincent
Guest
Why would Panasonic allow it, they are paying him NZ $1.7 million to play only 12 games. They won't release him to play for his country in the same sport, why would they allow him to do so for another sport? As I mentioned earlier, Panasonic have a game on the same day as the Oct 13 test.
D Maaga
Guest
i would love to see sbw play in the one-ff test match. if one of the kiwis best center is a guy playing second row for the warriors then sbw will have no problem.
D Maaga
Guest
i would have love to agree with you there stojo01 but that could not be possible 35 years ago. i played both codes in auckland for many years and anyone who did will know that it was impossible to play both while at high school because auckland 1st xv comp and under 16, 17, 18 and 19 rugby league are all play on saturday afternoon around the same time. the best school rugby talent in nz or auckland stay in rugby union while the warriors and nrl clubs might sign a few there are plenty of rugby schools all over nz and even more talents that have benefit nz rugby, overseas clubs and nations like samoa, tonga and fiji and the nrl as well. the auckland blues problems is not related to league its inhouse and its structure is run by amateurs like dalton and co and hope john kirwan can bring back some winning form to the blues next season. there are more rugby union players in auckland high schools alone than there are rugby league players in the whole of new zealand.
D Maaga
Guest
samsonite, the majority of the nrl clubs will all be lining up on the breadline and require handouts if it wasn't for the nrl handouts and those with millionaires backing.
Bono
Guest
Zippa, so not true when it comes to the AB's. I was in Malaysia recently and was staggered with the amount of All Black stickers on peoples cars. The AB's are pretty much known all over the world based on what I have gathered during my extensive travels.
Damo
Guest
Are you joking?
Jack M
Guest
My favourite part of this article was that last comment :P But on a serious side I wouldn't have a problem with it. I Just hope Panasonic allow it.
Boomshanka
Guest
The kiwi's are the number 1 league side in the world, not the kangaroos, despite what the Aussie media would have us believe.
trakl
Guest
Imagine the outcry if the All Blacks had considered selecting SBW before he'd made his debut for Toulon! Imagine Graham Henry giving this preposterous idea house-room in the way that Stephen Kearney - even if only momentarily - did at this press conference! Actually, you can't can you? It simply would not have been on the agenda. Is this one reason why the Kiwis are doomed forever to be in the All Blacks' shadow? It's as if the former, with their history of haphazard selection policies, go out of their way to cheapen the black and white shirt...
Zippa
Guest
Google why on earth are you comparing the all blacks to the kangaroos. They both play different sports. The all blacks are the number no.1 rugby side in the world and the kangaroos are the no.1 league side in the world. No team is superior to the other because they will never play each other so you can never compare the two teams. To say nobody has ever heard of the kangaroos you really are showing your ignorance. I am sure the 6 million people in PNG would disagree with you. Yes the all blacks have more of profile than the kangaroos only because rugby has a higher profile than league but if you were to actually travel the world you would realise that 95% of the world would not know either team.
Damien
Roar Guru
Maybe like the Roosters, SBW is able to join the team later than normal. It wouldn't be a stretch for Nasser to get that clause if he was able to get the boxing clauses as well..
allblackfan
Guest
Just heard; NZRU is considering picking SBW for the Bledisloe Cup series despite his Aug 31 deadline with Japan.