Sonny Bill Williams: Will he or won’t he play at the World Cup

James Gordon

There is confusion over Sonny Bill Williams‘ possible participation at the Rugby League World Cup.

The Sydney Roosters star was left out of New Zealand‘s 24-man squad, after he made himself unavailable due to “other commitments.”

However, since the squad announcement, reports Down Under suggest he’s had a change of heart, and it remains to be seen whether coach Stephen Kearney will amend his squad to accommodate the former All Black, who won the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

The squad itself is exclusively selected from the NRL, with no place for any Super League players.

However, former Wigan half Thomas Leuluai, ex-Hull forward Sam Moa and Greg Eastwood, who had a stint in the UK with Leeds, are included.

Captain Simon Mannering is one of seven survivors from the squad that won the 2008 World Cup, alongside Leuluai, Eastwood, Isaac Luke, Jason Nightingale, Krisnan Inu and Manu Vatuvei.

The Kiwis begin their cup defence against Samoa in Warrington on October 27, and play a warm-up match against the Cook Islands at Doncaster on October 20.

Full squad: Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne), Greg Eastwood (Canterbury), Kieran Foran (Manly), Alex Glenn (Brisbane), Bryson Goodwin (South Sydney), Tohu Harris (Melbourne), Josh Hoffman (Brisbane), Krisnan Inu (Canterbury), Shaun Johnson (NZ Warriors), Sam Kasiano (Canterbury), Thomas Leuluai (NZ Warriors), Kevin Locke (NZ Warriors), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Ben Matulino (NZ Warriors), Sam Moa (Sydney Roosters), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Frank-Paul Nu’uausala (Sydney Roosters), Frank Pritchard (Canterbury), Elijah Taylor (NZ Warriors), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney Roosters), Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters), Dean Whare (Penrith).