
Wendell Sailor talks NRL in Emerald
WITH the 2014 NRL season now under way, Wendell Sailor has expressed strong views on all things rugby league.
Sailor's former team, St George Illawarra, is one of the favourites for this year's wooden spoon.
"Our players haven't played as well as they would've liked for the last couple of years," he said.
But Sailor believes St George can turn things around this year.
"There are a couple of players who need to stand up this year," he said.
"It's up to those players.
"If you want the big money - and we've all been there - you've got to aim up, and at the moment those players aren't aiming up."
Sailor expressed his approval for the concept of the Auckland Nines tournament.
"I reckon the nines were a good start," he said.
"The nines were good because not all the superstars have to play."
He said the tournament was a great chance for fringe players to push their case for regular selection.
"Those young players who are fighting for positions, they get an opportunity to showcase their talent," he said.
Sailor also weighed in on the debate about Sam Burgess' controversial defection to rugby union.
"I don't begrudge anybody going over to another code," he said.
Sailor, who switched codes twice himself, said the choice was up to the individual player at the end of the day.
"I'm happy for Sam, because if you don't want to be at a club, don't be there," he said.
But he said Burgess might initially struggle in his new code.
"I think Sam will do a good job in rugby, but I think it's going to be very premature for him to fast-track from his position as a back rower into a number 12 in rugby union," he said.