• Podcast
  • ARL
    • Indigenous All Stars v NRL All Stars
    • Rugby League State Of Origin
  • NRL
    • The 2022 NRL Draw
    • 2021 NRL Draw
    • 2021 NRL Podcast
    • 2020 NRL Draw
    • 2015 NRL Draw
    • 2014 NRL Draw
  • ESL
    • International Origin
    • Challenge Cup
  • World
    • World Club Challenge
    • World Cup
    • Rugby League 9’s
    • NRL Auckland Nines Draw
  • Sports
    • AFL
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Soccer
  • Guest Writers
  • League Freak
    • Web Site News
    • Sponsorship
    • Uncategorized

The Glorious League Freak – Covering Rugby League World Wide – LeagueFreak.com

  • Home
  • Podcast
  • NRL Rumours
  • RL World 9’s
  • Features
    • Player Profiles And News
  • History
    • History Books
    • The Super League War
      • The Super League War – The Clubs
      • The Super League War – The Freak
      • The Super League War – The Extras
  • Quotes
  • Look-Alikes
  • Teams
  • Rankings
  • Media
  • About
    • Bio
    • League Freaks Commentary Career
    • Contact
    • League Freak On Twitter
    • I Am Not A Journalist
    • Contribute To LeagueFreak.com
    • League Freak Mentions In The Media
    • Advertise On This Website
    • Rugby League RSS Feed
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • RSS Feed
    • Youtube

Would The NZRL Have Selected Sonny Bill Williams In The ANZAC Test?

Apr 23, 2014 League Freak International Rugby League News 2


Reports suggest that Sonny Bill Williams will “boycott” the New Zealand team team if they select him in the ANZAC Test against Australia.

Williams is apparently unhappy at being named in a report about the alleged abuse of prescription drugs in the New Zealand camp during the 2013 World Cup campaign. The official report found there was nothing out of the ordinary going on, but by that point Sonny Bill Williams and Kieran Foran had been named in the press.

I can understand why someone would be angry about that. Especially if they were completely innocent.

Fast forward to now and with the New Zealand team about to be select Sonny Bill Williams apparently wants nothing to do with them.

I question whether Sonny Bill Williams is in good enough form to be selected by New Zealand right now.

Keep in mind his last game for New Zealand was a complete disaster. He was nothing short of a liability to New Zealand in their World Cup Final loss to Australia last year.

This year Sonny Bill Williams form has been very ordinary. Sure you hold a player of his caliber to a higher standard, but that is what you do for every other player that might be selected in the New Zealand side too.

For the Sydney Roosters, Williams has looked way off his form that he was in even early last year. On Twitter I commented last weekend that he should have done the Roosters a favour and let them now he intended to take 2014 off. Tongue in cheek, but still, that is the type of form Williams has shown this year.

I have to say he isn’t one of the players I would have thought about in terms of New Zealand’s ANZAC Test side.

In my opinion New Zealand needs to look to the future in this upcoming test match. They need to look at selecting players they want to see form the base of their next World Cup squad.

The likes of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at fullback, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on the wing, Elijah Taylor in the back row…the next generation of New Zealand players that the Kiwi’s can build around for the future.

Sure they might lose the ANZAC Test going down that road, but they will be better in the long run for it. Especially when you consider that the core of the Australian team right now probably won’t be around for the next World Cup in 2017.

So when you take into account Sonny Bill Williams form right now, and the fact he won’t be around for the 2017 World Cup himself, why would the Kiwi’s select him in the ANZAC Test?

Hopefully Sonny Bill Williams form lifts as the season goes on. The Roosters really need him to fire if they are going to defend their title. At this stage though, I don’t think the NZRL would have selected Sonny Bill Williams anyway if they are being smart about how their select their ANZAC Test side.

Sonny Bill Williams boycott of the Kiwi’s might be a boycott in name only.

  • Tweet
  • Share 0
  • Reddit
  • Pocket
  • LinkedIn 0
  • Email

Related


  • ANZAC Test, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Elijah Taylor, Kieran Foran, New Zealand, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Sonny Bill Williams, World Cup
People DO Care About What Sonny Bill Williams Is Doing Cronulla Sharks Favourites To Sign Benji Marshall And Michael Ennis

League Freak

A well known Rugby League writer, League Freak has established a reputation among supporters of the game for his fearless commentary and unmatched insight. With a reach that spans both sides of the globe, League Freak has produced an independent network that allows him to distribute content to his many thousands of followers. He is the owner and main author of LeagueFreak.com

Related articles
  • Should The New Zealand Warriors Release Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Early?
    Should The New Zealand Warriors Release...

    Jan 31, 2021 0

  • Podcast: Fergo and The Freak – Episode 272 – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Set To Become A New Zealand All Black
    Podcast: Fergo and The Freak –...

    Jan 29, 2021 0

  • Podcast: Fergo and The Freak – Episode 247 – Move The 2021 World Cup To New Zealand!
    Podcast: Fergo and The Freak –...

    Nov 01, 2020 0


2 thoughts on “Would The NZRL Have Selected Sonny Bill Williams In The ANZAC Test?”

  1. mawee 01/05/2014 at 11:57 pm

    Cmon bro the comment concerning the no show of SBW in the World Cup Final is totally wrong. Kearney needed the sack after failing to take the pressure off Johnson. I mean Sheens specifically targeted Johnson everytime he got the ball and it shut the whole team down not just SBW. Now that’s what lost us that cup because instead of shifting the ball 2 foran or SBW at 1st 5 he kept on going 2 Johnson Now that’s the Coach!!plain and square and I’m gobsmacked Kearney didn’t get the sack 4 failing 2 analyse it. I mean he cant even command a 1st grade team but is still Kiwi Coach? please. Now whether SBW wanted to play or not hell he’s still 1st pick in any team I mean u just don’t leave the World’s best player out when u no he always delivers on the big stage its just pathetic bro Kiwis wanna lose 50+

    Log in to Reply ↓
    1. League Freak Post author04/05/2014 at 2:05 pm

      A few points,

      1. There is no way in the world Sonny Bill Williams is the best player in the world. He isn’t even close.

      2. For most of the 2013 NRL Grand Final and all of the 2013 World Cup final, Williams was the worst player on the field by a long, long way

      3. The Kiwis performance in the 2014 Trans-Tasman test showed that Kearney made the right decision not to select certain players who kept letting NZ down when it really mattered.

      Log in to Reply ↓

You must log in to post a comment.

Become a Patron!

Ziad Warwar
Nadine
Coojee
Adam
Andy
jamescunni
Lisa
Rugby League Project
Samuel
Sandy
Katey
Oblivion NPC
Jack
Terry
Gibbo

RSS Fergo and The Freak Podcast

  • North Queensland Cowboys Sign A Chad
  • A Long Walk To A Suburb Not Near You...
  • Penrith Finally Happy To Have The Clap!!!
  • Angry
  • We Love You Tommy Raudonikis
  • Is The Salary Cap To Blame For Winless Clubs?
  • A Visual Podcast - You Have To See It To Believe It!
  • Leave State Of Origin Alone!!!
  • A Classic Grand Final Rematch And NRL Tipping Strategies
  • #AskKenty Volume 8
  • Two Blokes Talking About Footy In One Take
  • Looking Back On Round One Of The NRL Season
  • The 2021 NRL Season Preview By Fergo And The Freak!
  • Is Mitchell Moses Better Than Nobody At All - Plus Emails!
  • Names On The Back Of Jerseys - Yes Or No?

Polls

What Should Cameron Smith Do In 2021?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive

League Freaks Social Network

Follow League Freak on:

Latest Rugby League Articles

  • Panthers Look To Continue Hot Start Against The Knights
    Panthers Look To Continue Hot Start Against The Knights

    Apr 22, 2021 0

  • How Many Tries Did Andrew Ettingshausen Score During His NRL Career?
    How Many Tries Did Andrew Ettingshausen Score During His NRL...

    Mar 22, 2021 0

  • How Many Tries Did Billy Slater Score During His NRL Career?
    How Many Tries Did Billy Slater Score During His NRL Career?

    Mar 22, 2021 0

  • Who Has Scored The Most Tries In Professional Rugby League History?
    Who Has Scored The Most Tries In Professional Rugby League...

    Mar 22, 2021 0

  • How Many Points Did Jonny Wilkinson Score For The England Rugby Union Team
    How Many Points Did Jonny Wilkinson Score For The England...

    Mar 22, 2021 0

Follow League Freak on Twitter

My Tweets

Tags

Andrew Ferguson (285) ARL (61) Australia (155) Benji Marshall (87) Billy Slater (77) Broadcasting Deal (65) Cameron Smith (60) Channel 9 (71) Daniel Nichols (122) Disgrace (73) Eligibility Rules (64) England (141) Expansion (77) Fergo And The Freak (309) Greg Inglis (99) Guest Writer (332) Israel Folau (68) Jarryd Hayne (78) Johnathan Thurston (81) League Freak (387) Leeds Rhinos (57) Marketing (65) Matthew Elliott (70) Mitchell Pearce (62) New South Wales (93) New Zealand (137) NRL Finals (59) NRL Salary Cap (95) Paul Gallen (64) Player Movement (114) Podcast (332) Queensland (69) Referees (78) RFL (144) Robbie Farah (57) Rugby League History (69) Rugby Union (193) Sam Burgess (62) Sonny Bill Williams (91) State Of Origin (153) St Helens (63) Todd Carney (62) Wayne Bennett (81) Wigan (58) World Cup (166)
As featured on NewsNow: NRL newsNRL News 24/7

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Blogroll

  • The Glorious League Freak.
  • League Freak on Twitter
  • League Freak on Facebook
  • Rugby League Podcasting Network
  • NRL Breaking News
  • NRL Rumours
  • RLWorld9s.com

Facebook Pages

  • NRL Gossip
  • NRL Infinite

Features

  • King Of Rugby League
  • Rugby League Look-Alikes
  • Biggest Winning Margins In Rugby League History
  • Biggest Crowds In Rugby League History
  • Rugby League Quotes
  • Rugby League Dictionary
  • The Super League War
  • The New Zealand Haka
  • Funny Rugby League Teams
  • Rugby League Rankins Lists
  • NRL Rumours
  • IHateRugbyUnion.com
  • NRL History
  • NRL History Books
  • Record Books
  • Player Profiles

Other Links

  • Submit Your Australian Blog
  • Best Junk Hauling Virginia
  • Gutter Cleaning Service Virginia
  • Best Lawn Mowing Service Virginia
  • 2020 NRL Draw

Other Sports

  • Clutch Fans
  • Sportette

Players

  • Cameron Smith
  • Kayln Ponga
  • Sonny Bill Williams
  • Jarryd Hayne
  • Andrew Johns
  • Semi Radradra
  • Sam Burgess
  • Benji Marshall
  • James Tedesco
  • Cooper Cronk
  • Johnathan Thurston
  • Anthony Mundine
  • Sam Tomkins
  • Greg Inglis
  • Jamie Peacock

Rugby League

  • Rugby League Project
  • Era Of The Biff
  • Darryl's Rugby League
  • Jamie Lyon Web
  • Rugby League Review
  • Rugby League Ratings
  • NRL CEO Fantasy League
  • QLD Panthers
  • Andrew Ferguson's Website!
  • Black Swans RLFC
  • InternationalRL
  • 2021 Rugby League World Cup
  • Rugby League Mums
  • Player Profiles

Rugby League Podcast

  • Best Rugby League Podcast
  • Best NRL Podcast
  • Best Super League Podcast
  • Best Australian Podcast
  • Best Sports Podcast
  • Funniest Podcast
  • Best Comedy Podcast
  • NRL Radio
  • 2021 NRL Podcast
Google+
  • National Rugby League
  • Rugby League State Of Origin
  • Brisbane Broncos
  • Canberra Raiders
  • Canterbury Bulldogs
  • Cronulla Sharks
  • Gold Coast Titans
  • Manly Sea Eagles
  • Melbourne Storm
  • New Zealand Warriors
  • Newcastle Knights
  • North Queensland Cowboys
  • Parramatta Eels
  • Penrith Panthers
  • South Sydney Rabbitohs
  • St George/Illawarra Dragons
  • Sydney Roosters
  • Wests Tigers
  • The King Of Rugby League Awards
  • Rugby League Player Profiles And News
  • Fantasy Rugby League Teams
  • Rugby League World Rankings
  • Rugby League Look-Alikes
  • International Rugby League News
  • National Rugby League
  • European Super League News
  • Featured Guest Writers
  • Other Sports
  • The 2021 NRL Draw
  • The 2022 NRL Draw – Every NRL Game Listed For You!!!
  • Advertise On LeagueFreak.com
  • About LeagueFreak.com
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feed
  • NothingButLeague.com
  • Rugby League Podcasting Network
  • NRL Breaking News
  • NRL Rumours – Latest NRL Rumours
  • NRL Podcast
  • Super League Podcast
  • Rugby League Podcast
  • Here Is The Cure For COVID 19
Copyright LeagueFreak.com 2020 / All rights reserved
  • Advertise On LeagueFreak.com
  • About LeagueFreak.com
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feed
  • NothingButLeague.com
  • Rugby League Podcasting Network
  • NRL Breaking News
  • NRL Rumours – Latest NRL Rumours
  • NRL Podcast
  • Super League Podcast
  • Rugby League Podcast
  • Here Is The Cure For COVID 19