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Stirlo reckons Melbourne's a Super town
Adrian Poszenko | March 8, 2009
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...842719493.html
WALLABIES skipper Stirling Mortlock has backed the addition of another team to the Super 14 competition and nominated Melbourne as a worthy candidate for the next licence.
And Mortlock, set to line up against Sonny Bill Williams at outside-centre against the Barbarians in June, believes the Kiwi rugby league international will be "on the radar" of All Blacks selectors in his first game back in Australia.
SANZAR has all but assured Australia of an extra team in an expanded Super competition as rugby bosses from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa backed the move to a 15-team, 22-week competition from 2011.
Western Sydney, Melbourne, Gosford, Newcastle and the Gold Coast have all been mentioned as candidates, while Japan, the Pacific Islands, South Africa and New Zealand are outsiders to get the 15th spot.
Mortlock threw his backing behind the expansion and said there would be plenty of support for a Melbourne side.
"Every time we play Test matches down there we get a tremendous following," he said. "They'd be keen to get something.
"Every year, someone from the organisation goes to the Weary Dunlop function. There's a fair amount of support for rugby down there.
"I don't know the finer details, I just know they were close to securing a Super 14 franchise. A number of our players at the Brumbies come from Melbourne.
"But [such] decisions will be made by the right people and made with all the information, for the right reasons at the right time."
The other big rugby news during the week was the announcement that Williams will take on the Wallabies in the Barbarians match on June 6. Mark Gasnier was approached to join Williams for the Sydney Football Stadium encounter but knocked the ARU back because of club commitments.
That will leave the spotlight firmly on Williams in his first appearance in Australia since his infamous defection from the Bulldogs.
Mortlock described Williams as an "unbelievable athlete" and predicted All Black selectors would be watching his Barbarians performance with interest.
"Already it's generated a lot of excitement and talk," Mortlock said. "Sonny is an unbelievable athlete and what he did at the Bulldogs was amazing. He seems to be going very well in France, from all reports.
"There will be a lot more hype about it. It will be a very different challenge [for me].
"New Zealand officials will be keen to see how he's progressing as well."
Asked if he believed Williams would become a dual international, Mortlock said there was every chance, pending eligibility issues.
"The fact he's such a marquee player and has so many good attributes and qualities, he'd be on the radar, for sure," he said.
Former Wallabies coach John Connolly said Williams would face his sternest test in rugby when he lined up against the veteran Australian centre.
"[Williams] is someone who creates a lot of interest wherever he plays - this will be no different," Connolly said. "But this will be his toughest test in the 15-man game."
The 23-year-old caused outrage when he walked out on the NRL mid-season to take up a multimillion-dollar deal with French club Toulon. However, Bulldogs legend Steve Mortimer said he would happily catch up with Williams upon his return to Australia.
"My door is always open to Sonny Bill to sit down and have a chat," he said.
"In knowing him, it would still be hurting him that he chose not to speak to his mates face to face before he went over there."