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‘100 per cent I want to play rugby league’: All Blacks star eyeing sensational NRL switch
RUGBY
But in news that will go down like a lead balloon at the Warriors, it’s not the sole New Zealand club he wants to join.
No, Savea says he wants to go to a team that stands a chance of winning.
“Strategically I would want to go to a team that was dominating, like the [Melbourne] Storm or [Sydney] Roosters,” Savea told the Ice Project podcast in conversation with former Warrior Isaac John.
The 44-Test Hurricanes star is contracted with New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2021, but said he was “low-key thinking about it for next year”.
Savea said that dual international Sonny Bill Williams, who won a title at the Canterbury Bulldogs before sensationally switching codes to rugby, had served as inspiration behind the potential move.
“100 per cent I want to play rugby league, I think they do a lot more in terms of off the field stuff... and also, just a new challenge. I want to test myself,” Savea said.
“Learning a whole new game and seeing if I can dominate or, play the way I play in union, that excites me.
“Seeing guys like Sonny do it kind of plays on my mind a bit.”
Williams won two World Cups with the All Blacks and played in a third campaign.
After winning a Super Rugby title with the Chiefs in 2012, Williams returned to rugby league and won his second NRL premiership with the Roosters.
He then returned to the XV-man game in 2015.
Savea was nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year in 2019.
He missed out on the top gong to Springbok Pieter-Steph du Toit, but the All Blacks loose-forward cleaned up at the New Zealand awards.
The 26-year-old won Super Rugby player of the year, All Blacks player of the year and the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial overall player of the year.
Savea scored for the All Blacks in their World Cup semi-final loss to England in Japan.
But he hasn’t played for the Hurricanes since undergoing knee-surgery following the World Cup.
He is expected to return in the coming weeks.
RUGBY
- February 24, 2020 2:20pm
- CHRISTY DORAN@christypdoran
- Source: FOX SPORTS
But in news that will go down like a lead balloon at the Warriors, it’s not the sole New Zealand club he wants to join.
No, Savea says he wants to go to a team that stands a chance of winning.
“Strategically I would want to go to a team that was dominating, like the [Melbourne] Storm or [Sydney] Roosters,” Savea told the Ice Project podcast in conversation with former Warrior Isaac John.
The 44-Test Hurricanes star is contracted with New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2021, but said he was “low-key thinking about it for next year”.
Savea said that dual international Sonny Bill Williams, who won a title at the Canterbury Bulldogs before sensationally switching codes to rugby, had served as inspiration behind the potential move.
“100 per cent I want to play rugby league, I think they do a lot more in terms of off the field stuff... and also, just a new challenge. I want to test myself,” Savea said.
“Learning a whole new game and seeing if I can dominate or, play the way I play in union, that excites me.
“Seeing guys like Sonny do it kind of plays on my mind a bit.”
Williams won two World Cups with the All Blacks and played in a third campaign.
After winning a Super Rugby title with the Chiefs in 2012, Williams returned to rugby league and won his second NRL premiership with the Roosters.
He then returned to the XV-man game in 2015.
Savea was nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year in 2019.
He missed out on the top gong to Springbok Pieter-Steph du Toit, but the All Blacks loose-forward cleaned up at the New Zealand awards.
The 26-year-old won Super Rugby player of the year, All Blacks player of the year and the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial overall player of the year.
Savea scored for the All Blacks in their World Cup semi-final loss to England in Japan.
But he hasn’t played for the Hurricanes since undergoing knee-surgery following the World Cup.
He is expected to return in the coming weeks.
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