24 April 2006
By GREG PRICHARD
Sydney Morning Herald
Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes is determined to make sure New Zealand are careful with the club's young superstar Sonny Bill Williams in the lead-up to the test against Australia in Brisbane on Friday week.
Williams played his second game back for the Bulldogs yesterday after 10 months out with at first a knee injury and then stress fractures to both feet. Coming off the interchange bench in the 28th minute, he got 52 minutes of uninterrupted game time in the 40-14 loss to Manly at Telstra Stadium, following 26 minutes against South Sydney at the same ground on Easter Monday.
The Bulldogs, with a win-loss record of 3-3, have got a battle on their hands this season and if 20-year-old Williams - who has a history of injuries in his short career - were to break down again, it would be a massive blow to their chances.
"I think it's clear the Kiwis are going to pick Sonny," Folkes said after yesterday's game. "So when I rang [former Bulldogs star] Daryl Halligan, who is a New Zealand selector, on another matter, we also discussed Sonny's preparation. He is on a fairly restricted program, conditioning-wise, and we'd like him to stick to that, so I spoke to Daryl about that."
Williams, who split his time between the back row and centre against Manly, is being brought along slowly by the Bulldogs, who are anxious not to overload him. It will be interesting to see whether the Kiwis, who will name their team after next weekend's round, pick him in the starting side or on the bench.
www.stuff.co.nz
By GREG PRICHARD
Sydney Morning Herald
Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes is determined to make sure New Zealand are careful with the club's young superstar Sonny Bill Williams in the lead-up to the test against Australia in Brisbane on Friday week.
Williams played his second game back for the Bulldogs yesterday after 10 months out with at first a knee injury and then stress fractures to both feet. Coming off the interchange bench in the 28th minute, he got 52 minutes of uninterrupted game time in the 40-14 loss to Manly at Telstra Stadium, following 26 minutes against South Sydney at the same ground on Easter Monday.
The Bulldogs, with a win-loss record of 3-3, have got a battle on their hands this season and if 20-year-old Williams - who has a history of injuries in his short career - were to break down again, it would be a massive blow to their chances.
"I think it's clear the Kiwis are going to pick Sonny," Folkes said after yesterday's game. "So when I rang [former Bulldogs star] Daryl Halligan, who is a New Zealand selector, on another matter, we also discussed Sonny's preparation. He is on a fairly restricted program, conditioning-wise, and we'd like him to stick to that, so I spoke to Daryl about that."
Williams, who split his time between the back row and centre against Manly, is being brought along slowly by the Bulldogs, who are anxious not to overload him. It will be interesting to see whether the Kiwis, who will name their team after next weekend's round, pick him in the starting side or on the bench.
www.stuff.co.nz
