New Zealand axes Tohu Harris to pick Sonny Bill Williams for World Cup Sonny Bill Williams has issued an apology for his World Cup selection backflip, insisting his decision to take a holiday was not thoroughly considered. New Zealand will consider Sonny Bill Williams for their World Cup squad after confirming he is available. MELBOURNE forward Tohu Harris has been dropped from the New Zealand squad to make way for Sonny Bill Williams. Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney made the agonising decision to axe Harris this morning following Williams" stunning backflip over his availability for the World Cup. "It's been a tough situation, but Sonny brings things to the group that we couldn't ignore," Stephen Kearney said. He has had time since his NRL grand final win to clear his head and he wants to represent the Kiwis on the world stage. He missed our 2008 World Cup win and his inclusion will be a great asset in trying to repeat that success this year. It's not only his footballing ability, but also what he brings off the field which will benefit the team. The Kiwis were keen to take Harris to the UK in a development role and play him in a pre-tournament against the Cook Islands, but the Storm have decided it is in Harris's best interests to stay in Melbourne. The 21-year-old, who made his first grade debut for the Storm in the World Club Challenge in the UK in February, will instead bring forward minor surgery. "Tohu handled the situation as well as anyone could," Kearney said. It was a conversation no coach would like to have, but he's a terrific young man and I'm sure he'll have many more opportunities to pull on the black jersey. It's been a unique set of circumstances for all involved, but for now our focus is getting set to defend the World Cup with the team we have. After helping the Roosters secure the NRL premiership, Williams has set himself a challenge to become the first New Zealand player to win dual world cups. Williams was forced to explain his late change of heart amid accusations that he thinks he is bigger than the game. The former All Black initially snubbed the Kiwis' World Cup defence, telling selectors he had "other commitments," only to undergo a change of heart a few hours after the squad was announced yesterday and tell Kearney he wanted to take part. Williams hasn't played a league Test since the 2008 Centenary international. Kearney confirmed that Williams had initially been unavailable "due to other commitments." NZRL chairman Scott Carter said Williams had been in the Kiwis' sights since he returned to the NRL this season. The debacle raised further questions about Williams' commitment during a career in which he has displayed stunning athletic prowess but flitted between rugby union, rugby league and boxing seemingly on a whim. Williams, who started out in league and won a rugby union World Cup with the All Blacks in 2011, said he turned down the Kiwis because he wanted to take a long-awaited holiday Sunday's the NRL grand final. "After having some time to really think about how much representing my country means to me, I decided to then put my name forward for selection," he said in a statement posted on Twitter. Now I know the squad's been picked and I understand if I can't be a part of it, but I'm here and ready to help the brothers if they want me. Williams is currently weighing up whether to stay with the 13-man code or rejoin the All Blacks for a tilt at the 2015 World Cup and the Olympic sevens in 2016. The Dominion Post's Duncan Johnstone said the code-hopping 28-year-old had "belittled" rugby league by expecting the Kiwis tear up their teamsheet and welcome him with open arms because he belatedly deigned to join them. Former Kiwi international Tony Kemp had similar concerns, but expected Williams would be accommodated, despite his "amateurish" dithering. "He's the best player in the world, he's got to be in the side... what it's going to show is that Sonny Bill Williams is bigger than rugby league," he told Radio Livesport. Kemp said Williams's presence would make New Zealand favourites for the World Cup and lift the profile of the entire tournament, which is being held in England and Wales. Online polls also showed fans were in two minds about the latest drama surrounding Williams, who has polarised opinion since walking out on an NRL contract with league's Canterbury Bulldogs in 2008. A survey on the Fairfax Media website found almost 60 per cent of respondents did not believe he should be included in the Kiwis squad. A New Zealand Herald poll had about one-third of fans against him and one third for, with 31 percent clicking "I've lost interest in the SBW show." Additional reporting: Stuart Honeysett and AFP