Internationals SBW NOT RULED OUT YET

[Murphdogg1_old]

just saw this on fox sports

https://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20508091-23214,00.html

this is an excerpt

NEW ZEALAND
SONNY Bill Williams's agent insists the Bulldogs star is not out of the Tri-Nations.

New Zealand coach Brian McClennan said yesterday he was resigned to being without Williams because of a persistent knee injury – the second year in a row the marquee forward will have missed the series.

But manager Gavin Orr said: "Bluey is surmising the worst. We only had the scans done on Friday and we won't be going to see the doctor until tomorrow.

"Steve (Folkes, Dogs coach) has said he wants Sonny Bill to look after the knee and have surgery if it is needed, but we don't know for sure yet."

Matt Utai is also set to pull out with an ankle injury while Melbourne's Jake Webster has been told by new club Gold Coast not to make himself available because of a shoulder injury.

McClennan and his Kiwi selectors today pick a squad for the title defence, starting on October 14 against Australia at Mount Smart Stadium.

 

[MiXmasterreece_old]

THe worst thing you can do to a man in my position is give him hope.... lol

 

[*Kimmy*_old]

THe worst thing you can do to a man in my position is give him hope.... lol

I'm the same with you.......except ima woman..

 

[sliphgrrl_old]

i was wondering about this when reading the other thread.....everyone seemed to take the position that the bulldogs were controlling SBW and he didn't have the balls to stand up to them. but that goes against the impression I've always had of Sonny Bill. From what i've read/heard, he's pretty passionate about the kiwi jersey and if he was fit, there'd be no way in hell the bulldogs could stop him if he were selected.

 

[*Kimmy*_old]

i was wondering about this when reading the other thread.....everyone seemed to take the position that the bulldogs were controlling SBW and he didn't have the balls to stand up to them. but that goes against the impression I've always had of Sonny Bill. From what i've read/heard, he's pretty passionate about the kiwi jersey and if he was fit, there'd be no way in hell the bulldogs could stop him if he were selected.

Yeah he seems that way to me to..hence why I have been saying that I do believe the Bulldogs arn't keeping him out of the Tri Nations just for the sake of it, that they are doing it because it is going to be better for him in the long run, which I know i'd much rather see him play in many more Tri Nations to come..then just this one..and he busts his knee and thats his career finished.

 

[Jesbass_old]

THe worst thing you can do to a man in my position is give him hope.... lol

Get your hand out of my pocket, MiX.

 

[commonsense_old]

i say let the kiwi doctors take a look at him. they wouldnt give their green light unless he was really able to play.

 

[2big2strong_old]

ummm....


01 October 2006

By STEVE KILGALLON

Bulldogs star Sonny Bill Williams, who needs urgent knee surgery, is out of the New Zealand team for the defence of its Tri-Nations league title.



Williams withdrew from the Kiwis squad yesterday morning after being told by his club he needs an immediate operation on his troublesome knee.

Kiwis coach Brian McClennan told the Sunday Star-Times the news had came as a "real blow".

"I'm really disappointed for Sonny," he said. "It's the second Tri-Nations he has had to miss and I know he was really devastated about missing being part of the Kiwis last year."
After conducting Williams' post-season medical, Bulldogs doctor Hugh Hazard recommended he withdraw, and the Kiwis - through their medic Simon Mayhew - conceded to the Bulldogs that he wouldn't be fit enough to play in the three-cornered series, which starts with New Zealand versus Australia in Auckland on October 14.

Bulldogs winger Matt Utai also withdrew yesterday - the third season in a row he has been unavailable for test football - after the Kiwis were advised he would only be able to train once a week due to an ankle injury that needs surgery.
But key prop forward Roy Asotasi was cleared after recovering from knee ligament damage.

"It's the nature of our game, at the end of the season there are going to be guys who need surgery and become unavailable. It is no use crying over spilt milk," McClennan said.
"One person misses out, another gets an opportunity. Who's to say the new blokes who get their chance won't stand up and become great Kiwis?

"From where I stand, right now, I'd put my money on a few of these boys becoming household names in a Kiwi jersey. There is a bit more youth to this team and it is an exciting-looking team.

"They have a lot to live up to, but they are young and enthusiastic and they have every chance to go on and do great things together."

The New Zealand Rugby League engaged in angry exchanges with the Bulldogs last year over player releases, with chairman Selwyn Bennett ignoring a please-explain letter from the club's chairman Malcolm Noad over some inflammatory comments, then later declaring the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers were "playing us (the NZRL) for dummies".

But Bennett said yesterday he had no complaints this time.
"We're not unhappy - it is his (Sonny Bill's) future and we would be irresponsible if we played him," Bennett said.

After Mayhew studied medical reports, McClennan said he had no complaint about the Bulldogs' approach, saying: "They knew his knee wasn't right. He was following a rehab programme to get through their games and by the end he was pretty much only running once a week and playing with a bit of pain."
--

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

I still smell somthing fishy. Ever since guys like Sonny have come onto the scene, has anyone ever noticed that when it comes to international footy, it's the Kiwi plaeyrs who are always told 'you need to rest because of injury...etc" and that NONE of this rubbish ever happens to any of the Aussies player? Only unless they call for retirement? :roll:

 

[warriors4life_old]

Here's the latest report of him in the NZ Herald:

From www.nzherald.co.nz

Coach Brian McClennan today dismissed a suggestion that star forward Sonny Bill Williams might still be a starter for the Kiwis' defence of their Tri-Nations rugby league crown.

Williams, 21, has a persistent knee injury, but his agent, Gavin Orr, said the Canterbury Bulldog was not out of the reckoning for the series starting this month.

Orr told today's Daily Telegraph newspaper in Sydney that McClennan was "surmising the worst" when he ruled Williams out last weekend.

"We only had the scans done on Friday and we won't be going to see the doctor until tomorrow," Orr said, adding that it was not yet certain that Williams would need surgery.

But McClennan today indicated that Williams would not be in the 24-strong Kiwis squad to be named on Wednesday.

"Our doctor has been liaising with their doctor and we've got the medical reports from his MRI (scan)," he told NZPA.

"Sonny Bill won't be playing."

McClennan described the absence of Williams from the series for a second successive year as "a tragedy".

"He really wants to play internationals, but his knee is in bad shape," he said.

"He needs an operation and he needs it straight away. He needs to get it right. We want to see Sonny Bill around for another 10 years, not another one year."

Apart from Williams, other Kiwis unavailable through injury include Matt Utai (Bulldogs), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Jake Webster (Melbourne Storm), David Faiumu (North Queensland) and Louis Anderson (New Zealand Warriors).

Also ruled out is English-based test winger Lesley Vainikolo.

Vainikolo scored a 90m solo try yesterday to help to take Bradford to within one match of the Super League grand final, but he also needs knee surgery.

Meanwhile, McClennan said the 23-strong Australian squad named today contained no surprises.

The squad include seven uncapped players and the return to international football of former Parramatta centre Jamie Lyon, now with English Super League club St Helens.

There are just nine survivors from the Australian 17 who overwhelmed the Kiwis 50-12 in the Anzac test in May, with international retirement and injuries being the main reasons.

"Any of their players are more than capable," McClennan said.

"Has anyone seen a bad Australian side in the past 30 to 40 years?"

He said the depth of Australian league meant the Kangaroos would be able to cope with the loss of champion playmaker Andrew Johns, whose final test outing was in this year's Anzac international.

"They are well served," he said.

"They have Darren Lockyer who just gets better and better and they have the Dally M player of the year in Cameron Smith at acting half. It's a very, very strong Australian squad."

 

[*Kimmy*_old]

I still smell somthing fishy. Ever since guys like Sonny have come onto the scene, has anyone ever noticed that when it comes to international footy, it's the Kiwi plaeyrs who are always told 'you need to rest because of injury...etc" and that NONE of this rubbish ever happens to any of the Aussies player? Only unless they call for retirement? :roll:

Yep.

I'm quite sick of it.

But I DO believe that this surgery will help Sonny in the long run..cos if he didn't need the surgery I think he would stand up to the Bulldogs and say that he is playing the the Kiwis.

 

[commonsense_old]

Here's the latest report of him in the NZ Herald:

From www.nzherald.co.nz

Coach Brian McClennan today dismissed a suggestion that star forward Sonny Bill Williams might still be a starter for the Kiwis' defence of their Tri-Nations rugby league crown.

Williams, 21, has a persistent knee injury, but his agent, Gavin Orr, said the Canterbury Bulldog was not out of the reckoning for the series starting this month.

Orr told today's Daily Telegraph newspaper in Sydney that McClennan was "surmising the worst" when he ruled Williams out last weekend.

"We only had the scans done on Friday and we won't be going to see the doctor until tomorrow," Orr said, adding that it was not yet certain that Williams would need surgery.

But McClennan today indicated that Williams would not be in the 24-strong Kiwis squad to be named on Wednesday.

"Our doctor has been liaising with their doctor and we've got the medical reports from his MRI (scan)," he told NZPA.

"Sonny Bill won't be playing."

McClennan described the absence of Williams from the series for a second successive year as "a tragedy".

"He really wants to play internationals, but his knee is in bad shape," he said.

"He needs an operation and he needs it straight away. He needs to get it right. We want to see Sonny Bill around for another 10 years, not another one year."

Apart from Williams, other Kiwis unavailable through injury include Matt Utai (Bulldogs), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Jake Webster (Melbourne Storm), David Faiumu (North Queensland) and Louis Anderson (New Zealand Warriors).

Also ruled out is English-based test winger Lesley Vainikolo.

Vainikolo scored a 90m solo try yesterday to help to take Bradford to within one match of the Super League grand final, but he also needs knee surgery.

Meanwhile, McClennan said the 23-strong Australian squad named today contained no surprises.

The squad include seven uncapped players and the return to international football of former Parramatta centre Jamie Lyon, now with English Super League club St Helens.

There are just nine survivors from the Australian 17 who overwhelmed the Kiwis 50-12 in the Anzac test in May, with international retirement and injuries being the main reasons.

"Any of their players are more than capable," McClennan said.

"Has anyone seen a bad Australian side in the past 30 to 40 years?"

He said the depth of Australian league meant the Kangaroos would be able to cope with the loss of champion playmaker Andrew Johns, whose final test outing was in this year's Anzac international.

"They are well served," he said.

"They have Darren Lockyer who just gets better and better and they have the Dally M player of the year in Cameron Smith at acting half. It's a very, very strong Australian squad."

see i dunno. bluey is one who likes to play mind games. he did it last year with the availability of stacey jones. perhaps he is doing the same with sbw this year. who knows??

 

[KeepingTheFaith_old]

If SBW plays then I'll eat my hat. He won't be there.

 

[*Kimmy*_old]

FFS, he doesnt even need surgery. But he was told that its in his best interest's if he doesnt play, then he can have a full season next year. He also said he will see the NZ doctor if they don't believe he is hurt.

 

[Kiwi League_old]

"He needs an operation and he needs it straight away." Brian McClennan

Boy, was he ever badly miss-informed. He's resting it; no surgery what-so-ever.

 

[shawry_old]

i heard dogs doctor hugh hazzard told him he has to have the surgery. same doctor was in sh!t a few years ago. i think the story was parramatta said hindmarsh couldnt play for australia and australian doctor hugh hazzard said he could or vice versa dunno just remember something along those lines. utai never plays for nz now!

 

[2big2strong_old]

Utai doens't play for NZ because he's 'ozzie mate'. In 2002 he said he didn't want to play for NZ because he wanted to see if he could make Australia, Geoff Carr rang him up and said he'd never make it so go and play for NZ. Willie Mason said a similar thing (that if Aussie didn't want him he'd go the kiwi's) but that was before he became one of the best forwards in the world.

 

[shawry_old]

for real?!? didnt know that.

 

[2big2strong_old]

there was a write up about it in the Courier mail here in bris, during the selection of the NZ squad to play GB in the 2002 series in england.

 

[*Kimmy*_old]

Omg I soo didn't know that........if this is true.......i hate to say it.....but....ffs im struggling to say it!!..i've lost all respect I ever had for Utai *cries*

Is there any slight hope in hell you still have the article 2black2strong, I wanna read what the *refrains from calling him a lil mut*..i wanna know what he said!! :cry: