League: No regrets in picking Williams

Manly winger Tony Williams. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney doesn't believe they made made a mistake by naming Manly winger Tony Williams in their original train on squad.

Williams has pledged his allegiance to Australia and has now been dropped from the Kiwis squad.

Kearney says until yesterday he had every indication that Williams wanted to play for New Zealand.

He says two weeks ago Williams told him he wanted to play in the black jersey and then yesterday he told him he wanted to play for the Kangaroos.

Williams was born and raised in Australia, but played for Tonga last year.

Kearney believes outside influences may have played a part in Tony Williams' decision to turn his back on New Zealand.

He says he has his suspicions about how his change of heart came about. He says Williams is a young guy and would have been getting plenty of advice from a number of different people.

Kearney also says there was never any guarantee that Williams would have made their final squad anyway.

- NEWSTALK ZB