Former Waratahs midfield linchpin Nathan Grey has urged the critics to leave NSW alone and believes Japan could field a competitive team in an expanded Super rugby tournament.

Grey, who holds the NSW record of caps for a centre, has just completed his third season with Japanese club Kyuden Voltex.

The hard-running centre, who won 94 NSW caps was back in Sydney watching his old team mates train.

Grey said he kept up to date with the Waratahs through the internet and watching Super matches, live and on delay, on Japanese pay television.

While speculation continues about the future of NSW coach Ewen McKenzie after a three-two start to their season, Grey felt the Waratahs were on the right track.

"I think they are building very well, they are getting a lot of guys who are playing well getting used to this level," Grey said.

"If people just leave them alone and let them play, I think the results will come.

"They've got really skilled forwards and a good backline."

Grey, who won 34 Test caps, headed to Japan after playing for the Waratahs in the 2005 Super final loss against the Crusaders.

He helped his team earn promotion to the top division and is helping out in a coaching capacity while continuing to play.

Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill is keen for Japan to field a team in an expanded Super competition.

Several overseas players are already plying their trade in Japan and Grey felt a composite team of home grown and foreign talent could form a very competitive Japanese Super club.

His major concern was the off-field structure and support for a franchise.

"The makeup of it is the crucial thing, how they structure it and how they fund it," Grey said.

"I think if SANZAR really get behind it and impose it on the Japanese rugby union, then it's going to be something that could work.

"You've got a good base of foreigners over there if you make it a composite side.

"There's some great Japanese players over there and with a little bit more grunt and a little more experience in terms of playing at this level, you'd have a really competitive side."

Grey said SANZAR would need to make sure the companies who ran the major rugby teams in Japan would release their players for the Super tournament, though their domestic season ends in February.

He had no doubt Super rugby would be a major attraction in Japan.

"You'd certainly get great crowds in terms of Super 14 franchises going over there and playing. You'd get full stadia."

McKenzie has tried several players at inside centre since Grey's departure, including Shaun Berne, Morgan Turinui and Ben Jacobs, with Tom Carter holding down the spot this season.

Injuries stalled Carter's emergence at Super level until this season, but Grey recognised his emerging talent during his own time with the Waratahs.

"I think he (Carter) is a great 12, he was on the fringe and certainly someone who was identified as one who was going to be a great talent coming through," Grey said.

"A lot of guys really shine and some don't and he's certainly one of those that's revelled in the higher standard of footy."

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