Son of All Black keen to play alongside SJ
Former New Zealand Sevens representative Bailey Simonsson is excited about the prospect of lining up alongside Nines king, Shaun Johnson.
Simonsson’s rapid rugby league rise will be capped off this weekend when he runs out for the Kiwis in the inaugural Nines World Cup in Sydney.
The Raiders winger, fresh off his first NRL grand final, has been named as part of a New
Zealand side set to be led by the format’s mastermind,
Johnson.
‘‘I’m probably most looking forward to lining up alongside Shaun for sure, as a player you see what he can do on the field,’’ Simonsson told NRL.com.
‘‘He’s been a very good player for a long time so to be able to come into camp with a player of his calibre is exciting and I know a lot of the younger guys are excited too.’’
Johnson set the inaugural NRL Club Nines on fire during his time with the Warriors, and will be in charge of steering around a star-studded Kiwis side when they take on Australia first up today.
Simonsson, along with Raiders team-mate Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, will make up a lethal backline for the men in black and the Canberra duo were looking forward to the added space Nines allows.
Simonsson first made a name from himself in the other code’s shortened game, spending two years in the New Zealand Sevens system and playing Mitre 10 Cup for Bay of Plenty – before joining the Raiders.
He follows in the footsteps of his 1980s All Blacks father Paul Simonsson, who also made a code switch during his career.
The 21-year-old said he was looking forward to his first taste of international rugby league.
‘‘My journey from rugby to rugby league all happened pretty fast,’’ he said. ‘‘Pulling that black jersey on for the NZ Sevens was obviously really special, and I’m sure it will be this time around as well. I can’t wait.’’