SBW’S form impresses Kiwis coach

by Michael Brown Sonny Bill Williams has caught the eye of most league observers since his comeback and, crucially, Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney has been one of them.

Williams is expected to be named in the Kiwis tomorrow, assuming he’s unscathed after last night’s explosive contest against the Bulldogs, the club he walked out on five years ago.

Next Friday’s Anzac test against Australia will be the 27- year- old’s eighth cap, although he has also played 19 tests for the All Blacks.

Kearney has been impressed with Williams’ return to league and the fact he hasn’t tried to overplay his hand.

‘‘ What’s impressed me is that he’s had a really measured approach

Golf about it and has got gradually better each week,’’ Kearney said. ‘‘ When he’s got a bit of space, we’ve seen the offload he’s capable of.

‘‘ For the most part, he’s played a really measured role in his team and it’s been a real eye- opener for me. We all knew what he was capable of when he left the game but what he’s done in his comeback has been a real credit to him and I’m really pleased for him.’’

Kearney isn’t going to ask Williams to do anything differently in the test but thinks, with the forward pack they can assemble, it will give the secondrower chances to threaten Australia’s defensive line.

Kearney is likely to name a fairly stable 19- man squad, especially with their defence of the World Cup only seven months away, and Williams is We all knew what he was capable of when he left the game but what he’s done in his comeback has been a real credit to him and I’m really pleased for him. expected to be included alongside the likes of Jesse Bromwich, Jared Waerea- Hargreaves, Ben Matulino, Sam McKendry, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering and Jeremy Smith in a powerful forward pack.

The game plan isn’t likely to deviate from the past much, either. The Kiwis have lost the last four tests with Australia by an average of seven points, convincing Kearney they aren’t too far off.

‘‘ We have put ourselves in the contest pretty encouragingly in the last four times we have played them,’’ he said.

‘‘ We have identified some areas of real improvement for us and, if we can get that right, then it will put us in an even better position.’’

by David Barbeler All eyes will be on the long- awaited return of Canberra captain Terry Campese in tonight’s clash against the Warriors.

Raiders assistant coach Brett Kimmorley said the former NSW and Australian representative will play off the bench in his first game since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL) in his left knee last April.

The 28- year- old has had a horror run of injuries, playing just eight matches since first tearing his ACL in 2010.

‘‘[ The] plan will still be that he’ll come off the bench, obviously ease him back into the game,’’ Kimmorley said. ‘‘ He’s done a lot of work and a lot of preparation but I don’t think it quite prepares you for playing.

‘‘ How long he’s going to last we’re unsure.

‘‘ It’s a matter of getting quality minutes out of him, keeping him fresh and letting his body be aware of just getting back into some collisions.’’

Campese’s return is likely to see last week’s debutant Anthony Milford drop out of the 18- man squad in the only change to the Raiders’ lineup that came from behind to beat the Sydney Roosters 24- 22 last week.

Co- captain David Shillington, who was inspirational in the 16- point comeback, clocking up 144m with the ball from the front row, sees tonight’s match as the perfect trial for the transtasman test in Canberra next Friday.

‘‘ New Zealand have a great forward pack, players like Ben Matulino and Russell Packer, they take the team forward really well and play real aggressively,’’ he said. ‘‘ Hopefully I can put the best foot forward for the test match the week after because I know players in our team, and theirs, are vying for a spot in that game.’’

Both sides are desperate for a win, as the Warriors are at the bottom of the table with just one win from five matches and the Raiders fourth last with two wins. However, it looks to be an uphill battle for the Kiwis, who haven’t won in Canberra since 1997.

‘‘ That’s a fair hoodoo. But like I was saying about this test match next week, they’re all vying for spots and they’ll be that pumped up they’ll be a handful,’’ Shillington said.

Meanwhile, Canberra have announced the re- signing of Jarrod Croker for a further two seasons.