All Black star Ardien Savea has made a startling admission, saying he is considering a move to the NRL with the confession set to send shock waves through New Zealand Rugby.

The news will be bittersweet for the lone NRL club in New Zealand however, with the Warriors seemingly ruled out by Savea.

Savea was a guest on the Ice Project podcast with former Warrior Isaac John and spoke of his interest in joining an existing NRL force.

“Strategically I would want to go to a team that was dominating, like the [Melbourne] Storm or [Sydney] Roosters.”

The Hurricanes star is contracted with New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2021, but stated he was 'low-key thinking about it for next year"

Savea said that former Canterbury Bulldogs star and dual international Sonny Bill Williams has served as the 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 played in two winning World Cup squads for the All Blacks and played in their 2019 campaign in Japan. In 2012, Williams made a return to the NRL and won a second NRL premiership with the Sydney Roosters and followed this with a return to union in 2015.

Savea has proven himself in recent years to be one of the stars of world rugby, being nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year and winning Super Rugby player of the Year in 2019.

He is expected to return for the Hurricanes in the coming weeks after undergoing knee-surgery following the All Blacks World Cup semi-final loss to England in August.

17 COMMENTS

  2. Ardie will tear the nrl to pieces! He should take ngani & vaea Fifita with him. Never mind storm&roosters though.. he will only get immortal status @ the warriors .. winning a premiership there is the only way to prove his influence.

  3. “the warriors .. winning a premiership there is the only way to prove his influence”

    it would do that but of course it would but more likely, the premiership wouldn’t happen and his time there would be a massive waste. The worries should be a force and the fact that they are not proves that they suffer from the Kiwi disease and will always under perform.

  4. We will pay any amount of money to buy you… what is your price?
    regards
    Russ, James, Dirty Rich, Pete
    AKA South Sydney Sombreros Hombreros

  6. Will probably go to Souths or Storm for a lot less than the roosters offer in the name of happiness after he saw the treatment of Latrell.
    Not sure what the roosters can do to change the rut of players signing elsewhere for less.
    Maybe try and instill some heart and soul into the dump instead of relying on poaching elite to buy premierships.

  8. LidcombeOval February 25, 2020 at 4:15 pm
    “This article says a lot about the Warriors really. Almost feel bad for them.”
    Its only a media article so don’t discount the Warriors.

  10. Look it is so obvious that all players dream of playing Rugby League for the Roosters.
    Ardien Savea is just another wishing to fulfill his dreams. Alas we only have a few vacancies in our threepete squad of Champions. I dont like his chances. Maybe for a reduced price he could get a Roosters jumper. Otherwise being such a high risk I would suggest his agent to call Russ for a Nana Glen farm visit if he wants money. If he wants glory and trophies, then the Roosters could give him a run in Bears colours until he finds his feet.

  12. “Rut of players signing elsewhere for less”
    Who else, apart from Latrell Mitchell (who was SACKED by Easts), signed elsewhere for less money???
    What is a “rut of players”???…is that like a “spray of soufs supporters”??
    Not quite sure you understand what a rut is, you gronk 21…..but then, soufs supporters aren’t exactly famed for their intelligence.

  13. AdamWoodNuggets,
    Recently many players have knocked back offers from your Nuggets. Including one of their best in Mitchell. Also such players as Johnson, Brooks, Cleary, Fifita. Clearly ‘all’ players don’t dream of playing for the chicken nuggets. Even the offers including independent corporate sponsorships, aren’t always enough to get all players their. The vacancies in their squad , are more proof of this. Although it’s true to say that they are continually trying to buy more players. This is the norm at the import chickens.

  15. He’ll go alright as long as he builds his fitness. FAR more running and defending than what he is used to in rugby.

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