New Zealand officials have moved to assure the Bulldogs they will take no chances with the health of NRL superstar Sonny Bill Williams despite their keenness to pitch him into the Anzac Day Test match.
Williams made his long-awaited return for the Bulldogs in their 26-18 victory over South Sydney on Monday, showing no signs of the knee and foot stress fracture injuries that have sidelined him for 10 months.
Despite lobbying Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes for more game time, Williams played just 25 minutes, with the club keen not to overburden him until he gets his match fitness and confidence back.
The big back rower has been on a modified training program at the Bulldogs to minimise the chances of further injuries, with Folkes saying he wanted to speak to Kiwi coach Brian McClennan about not overworking Williams in training prior to the May 5 Test match.
"Hopefully they'll look after him while he's in camp because he's on a fairly modified program for us and I'd hope they would carry that through," Folkes told Channel 10.
But New Zealand Rugby League chairman Selwyn Bennett assured Folkes the Kiwis would stick to any set training regime for Williams and promised not to play him unless he was fully fit.
"If he is unable to play, we won't play him, simple as that," Bennett said.
"We are not here to ruin him.
"He has got a big future, he's got so much good football in front of him, we don't want an ex-Kiwi at 21, do we?
"The (Anzac) Test is only one of up to six Test we've got this year if we make the (Tri Nations) final ... we've got a heavy program at the end of the season.
"While Sonny Bill will play a part on May 5th if he is fit enough ... there's a lot of football left.
"We'll speak to the Bulldogs ... we've had our little spits in the past but we respect their wishes, he's their asset and we'll look after him."
Bennett pointed to the Kiwis management of Bulldogs prop Roy Asotasi and Sydney Roosters flyer Iosia Soliola in last year's series as proof the welfare of the players always came first.
The Kiwis followed a strict training program supplied by the Bulldogs for Asotasi to ensure he didn't aggravate a foot injury, while then-Kiwi doctor Harris Fuard ruled out Soliola despite a clearance from the club.
"We'll never pressure the players to play unless they are right," he said.
Williams made his long-awaited return for the Bulldogs in their 26-18 victory over South Sydney on Monday, showing no signs of the knee and foot stress fracture injuries that have sidelined him for 10 months.
Despite lobbying Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes for more game time, Williams played just 25 minutes, with the club keen not to overburden him until he gets his match fitness and confidence back.
The big back rower has been on a modified training program at the Bulldogs to minimise the chances of further injuries, with Folkes saying he wanted to speak to Kiwi coach Brian McClennan about not overworking Williams in training prior to the May 5 Test match.
"Hopefully they'll look after him while he's in camp because he's on a fairly modified program for us and I'd hope they would carry that through," Folkes told Channel 10.
But New Zealand Rugby League chairman Selwyn Bennett assured Folkes the Kiwis would stick to any set training regime for Williams and promised not to play him unless he was fully fit.
"If he is unable to play, we won't play him, simple as that," Bennett said.
"We are not here to ruin him.
"He has got a big future, he's got so much good football in front of him, we don't want an ex-Kiwi at 21, do we?
"The (Anzac) Test is only one of up to six Test we've got this year if we make the (Tri Nations) final ... we've got a heavy program at the end of the season.
"While Sonny Bill will play a part on May 5th if he is fit enough ... there's a lot of football left.
"We'll speak to the Bulldogs ... we've had our little spits in the past but we respect their wishes, he's their asset and we'll look after him."
Bennett pointed to the Kiwis management of Bulldogs prop Roy Asotasi and Sydney Roosters flyer Iosia Soliola in last year's series as proof the welfare of the players always came first.
The Kiwis followed a strict training program supplied by the Bulldogs for Asotasi to ensure he didn't aggravate a foot injury, while then-Kiwi doctor Harris Fuard ruled out Soliola despite a clearance from the club.
"We'll never pressure the players to play unless they are right," he said.
