Umaga sure Sonny Bill can make it in rugby
BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE
Tana Umaga talks to Close Up about returning to New Zealand and his new role as player/coach for NPC side Counties-Manukau.
Sonny Bill Williams won't be making any decisions about his future until the end of the French season but Tana Umaga has no doubt the former league star can make it in rugby as his apprenticeship gathers pace.
That message was made very clear by Umaga who is leaving Toulon after three years to return to New Zealand to join Counties-Manukau for a playing-assistant coaching role.
Speculation continues to swirl around Williams' future, including joining Umaga at the south Auckland union.
Umaga almost laughed that off on Tuesday although he did admit to a bit of arm-twisting.
"I told him that if he does come back he had better play with me - I'd be disappointed if he didn't," Umaga told Radio Sport.
Williams is off contract with Toulon this year.
Williams has previously spoken of a desire to become an All Black. Any hopes he might have of playing in the World Cup next year would rest on him returning to play in this year's ITM Cup national championship in New Zealand and then gaining a Super 14 contract.
But there is also plenty of talk of the former Bulldogs star returning to the NRL. The Warriors have even expressed an interest in him.
"Everyone wants to know what he is doing," Umaga acknowledged.
"We have had a chat and all he wants to do is get his body right and get back on the field which he is doing now.
"He has told his management to collect all the offers that come to the table and at the finish of the season he will decide. He doesn't want to do anything before that.
"That's the measure of the person. He just wants to prove himself, show what he has got and he is doing that brilliantly over here. We will just have to wait and see what happens at the end of the season."
Umaga felt there would also be a temptation for Williams to stick with the French scene where he was comfortable away from the microscope that would come with a return to Australia or a start in New Zealand rugby.
"He enjoys it here."
Umaga is adamant Williams has a future in rugby if he wants to push on with the 15-man game. He is finally starting to show his potential and class in a Toulon side that lies fifth in the French championship, just four points adrift of top-placed Castres and within sight of the playoffs.
"There is no doubt he can do it ... I never doubted it."
Umaga said after all his injury problems, Williams was now fit and firing.
"It's been a while since he has been 100 percent but he is standing out in our side. In the last three or four weeks he has shown his class in every game he has played."
Umaga said Williams was a coach's dream.
"He's a great person. He's probably what every coach wants. He has a thirst for knowledge, he listens very well, he takes everything on board, he asks good questions, he has a great attitude to training.
"From a coaching point of view it's what you ask of in a player ... I can't speak highly enough of him."
- © Fairfax NZ News
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come back to league SBW, dont waste your time with kick tennis rugby or even worse don't do a Karmichael Hunt and play ping pong AFL,i don't care who u play for, just as long as your playing in the NRL.NRL Round 1 was more exciting to watch then all the S14 games so far this year!!
If he actually came back to NZ, counties wouldnt be the team for him. It puts him in the Chiefs catchment and we dont need him when we have Kahui on board. he needs to go somewhere where he can guarantee a place in super 15. I suppose there is always the draft.
Great talent but where do you put him, midfield or flank/8? Lets see what happens. If its about the $$ then he will stay where he is. If he is serious about being an AB then he will have to take a pay cut and play in NZ.
tony: up and coming game of rugby league.... baahaha now I've heard it all. why do you think the trend has changed from union players leaving to league to league players joining union?? money. and why is money growing in union at faster rate than league? auidience. and why has union got the bigger audience???
I'll let your little brain try work that one out
Pierre Spies happens to be one of the finer rugby specimens the game has currently. Physically he is a freak (Wiki him). He's also taken years to get to the top of his game. Sorry, but having a great physique doesn't automatically mean you could waltz into the Super 14.
France is hardly a breeding ground for Super 14 players now is it?
Sonny bill will never make it as a top international back in rugby ,he should of concentrated on becoming a loosie which suits his type of play.He is a good link man with pace and would have the power and strength to compete at the breakdown. Comment 24# BRAD THORN was a top international forward for the Aussie league team one of the best,if he was not in the top 20 NRL forwards then hell the hell did he play for Australia and in the state of origin Queensland team.
Cant wait for Sonny to come back home and make the All Blacks. Its gonna be awesome!
As for all you couch rugby experts, trust Tana over you pathetic lot any day.
if he goes to counties under tana he will be a male model for the rest of his life, if he goes to canterbury he will play for the all blacks.
he won't make it into the all blacks.
he is better suited to league because he gets the ball in his hands far more often. in rugby he has to wait around in the backline, and might only touch the ball 4 or 5 times in a game. whereas in league, he can get the ball in his hands once or twice a set.
SBW is far better suited to league, a sport in which he can get far more invloved in and show off his skills.
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comment 28# correct Brad Thorn did play representative on all levels in league from 1996 to 2005 and WAS a great player, my point was he was not considered for state of origin & aus internationals 2006 & 2007 (his last 2 seasons)was simply not good enough. and I very much doubt that he would make the current broncos side, quite frankly SBW would walk into any nrl side today, not that that would happen..
5 years on and a 30 something Thorn is the archilies of the ab's pack as per my previous comments "a shoe in for the ab's". Wake up nz 4 years is a very LONG time to wait for another world cup...