The parents of Tohu Harris, the fall guy in superstar back-rower Sonny Bill Williams’ Rugby League World Cup selection backflip, have cancelled flights they booked to watch their son play for his country.

After hearing their son’s name read out in the New Zealand squad on Tuesday, Harris’ father Paul and mother Dale immediately booked flights to the United Kingdom for the tournament.

But they have canned that trip and are flying to Melbourne to join their “disappointed” son at his NRL club’s awards night on Friday night instead.

The couple’s excitement soured when Kiwis coach Steve Kearney dropped 21-year-old Harris to make way for Williams when the Sydney Roosters’ star changed his mind and declared himself available on Wednesday.

“Both of us were going to go and we’re disappointed Tohu missed out,” Paul Harris told the New Zealand Herald.

“Hopefully Tohu will make another World Cup tournament in the future. We’re going to go to the Storm club’s prizegiving as a consolation feel-good trip.”

Williams took to Twitter again on Wednesday night to express regret that his belated decision to make himself available had cost Harris a World Cup berth.

“I’m really sorry about the Tohu situation it was never my intention I just followed my heart, now I promise I’ll play with all of it,” wrote Williams.

The decision to dump a player after selecting him caused controversy in New Zealand.

Former Kiwis coach Graham Lowe directed the blame at Kearney, saying he has “created amateur hour”.

“To say that he thought Sonny Bill wasn’t available and he had other commitments, I mean when you’re chasing a player and you chase him properly … there was no reason for them to rush anything,” Lowe told Fox Sports News.

“I think it’s the worst selection announcement I’ve ever heard in sport.

“I think Stephen Kearney’s buggered it up.”

Harris made his Test debut against Australia in April which Williams missed due to a knee injury.