Wynne Gray: NZRU likely has a game plan for latest convert

Perhaps the most attractive ingredient about Michael Witt was that the five-eighths qualifies to play for New Zealand in November.

Clearly the NZRU thought so when it got involved in the deal which has the former Warrior switch his allegiance to club rugby in Dunedin with an eye on progress in his new sport with Otago and maybe the Highlanders next season.

Witt played some rugby at secondary school in Queensland, not a lot apparently, but he has some grasp of the game.

He obviously has a huge understanding of the mechanics of goalkicking with his impressive statistics in his tenure at Penrose.

However, he felt the squeeze there this season and obviously considered a change of codes as his best option.

He looked at trialling in North Harbour but Jimmy Gopperth has made a start there and Luke McAlister is due home in the next few months.

Next idea involved Dunedin rugby and the Highlanders where five-eighths Daniel Bowden and Matt Berquist are both imports.

There are others like Chris Noakes and James Wilson who will put on some pressure next season but Witt has been sold a vision by southern rugby men.

He has also, apparently, been recommended as a genuine rugby talent by John Hart and Wayne Smith and is being set as someone who can play as first five-eighths or in midfield.

Many league players have switched to rugby but not many have successfully made the transition to top-drawer five-eighths.

Matt Rogers had some success with the Wallabies but he found he was better suited to fullback, Henry Paul ended up more in midfield with England while Berrick Barnes also has a much better grasp of the game at second five-eighths.

Only Witt understands the whole package of reasons why he has made the switch. We can only guess.

If he backs himself, as he clearly does, he may look around and wonder if he has a chance of making a squad for the 2011 World Cup.

He will be up against it if Daniel Carter, McAlister and Stephen Donald stay healthy and are hounded by the rising talents of youngsters like Stephen Brett, Colin Slade, Michael Hobbs and Daniel Kirkpatrick.

You can bet Dingo Deans will also take a close interest and will applaud New Zealand for trialling another Wallaby prospect.