When the water comes into the boat, the choice is to bail faster than the water rises, but it is often the case that the capacity of the bucket is not adequate to remain afloat.
The next option is to bail out of the boat before it goes under, so it is not all that surprising to learn that All Blacks star Ardie Savea would like to follow the path Sonny Bill Williams found in 2013.
Savea is with Super Rugby Hurricanes for the moment and NZR has him on contract for rep footy through 2021.
Holder of 44 All Blacks Test caps, it would be expected that Savea’s little hop to the 13-man game would ignite a bidding war in the NRL.
Savea is currently off with a knee injury. He said SBW was the inspiration for his desire to switch codes. The two played as teammates in rep football.
“100 per cent (I want to play rugby league),” Savea told the Ice Project podcast with former Kiwis half Isaac John.”I just think they (the players) do a lot more in terms of off the field stuff than New Zealand. And also, just a new challenge. I want to test myself.”
Savea said other things, but if he simply wants job stability and more money, that would be fine by most. He is 26, so his window, while not shut, perhaps not even beginning to close quite yet, is definitely visible.
If Sonny Bill is his guiding beacon, it might be found that Savea would do some playing in the NRL, and then switch back to union when the right time and right offer came along.
Savea obviously has the skills to play any rugby code that appeals to him. He has played sevens and he could make an impact either as a NRL second-rower and a threat from the edge.
Savea played outside as a junior, so the NRL might find him on the backline.
Savea unabashedly stated a preference to play for Melbourne or Sydney.
“Strategically I would want to go to a team that was good or dominating, like the Melbourne Storm or the Roosters,” he said.
Savea is without doubt good enough to play for either club, but he may find the supply of gold better with the Suns, provided they can afford him.
