Teenage forward sensation Sonny Bill Williams has been ruled out of New Zealand's Tri-Nations match against Great Britain in Hull on Saturday with a shoulder injury.

The 19-year-old Williams, who was man of the match in the Kiwis' opening 16-16 draw with Australia and caused all sorts of problems against Great Britain earlier this month, is thought to have sustained the injury during the Bulldogs' triumphant run to the NRL premiership in October.

Coach Daniel Anderson said the player had an MRI scan last week and the New Zealand management agreed to a request from his club to pull him out of Saturday's match, which is a "dead rubber".

"We've given all the information to the Bulldogs and they've requested that he does not play this weekend," he said.

"For his long-term future, I think it's the best decision."

Williams made his Test debut as an 18-year-old in the Anzac match in April and had appeared in all three of the Kiwis' Tri-Nations fixtures so far, although he was rested for last week's 24-20 win over France.

"We haven't had a win on tour, except against France, and I wasn't a part of that," he said.

"I still haven't tasted victory in a Kiwi jersey. Hopefully the boys will get one this weekend."

Another of the Kiwis' 19-year-olds, scrum-half Thomas Leuluai, is expected to be fit to face Great Britain at KC Stadium.

Leuluai came off with a shoulder injury midway through the second half of the 22-12 by Britain in Huddersfield nine days ago and he sat out the French game.

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