Current All Black Sonny Bill Williams is reportedly returning to rugby league in 2013. While nothing has been confirmed yet, it seems Williams will sign a one year contract to join the Sydney Roosters next season.
The contract is rumoured to be in the vicinity of a million dollars.
Central to the negotiations is the fact Williams will initially have a stint in Japanese rugby union with the Panasonic club, before joining the Roosters late in pre-season. Williams will also be granted leave during the season to enter the ring in a boxing match in South Africa.
Considering his other commitments, it begs the question: is Williams worth it?
No one doubts Williams’ ability or athleticism. And there are few concerns about Williams adjusting to rugby league from rugby union. Though he’s been out of the code for awhile, he’s an absolute natural. And as any rugby fan will tell you, league is a simpler game, so it will take him little time to adapt to the nuances of rugby league.
The real concern is that you have to question Williams’ motivation if he’ll miss pre-season because he’ll be in Japan, and will also miss some time for his boxing match. Even if his absence does not affect him and his performances on the field, I wonder what message it sends to the rest of the team?
Culture is extremely important in sporting clubs, and rugby league is no different. A tight knit bond between everyone at the club, with everyone working towards the same goals and operating under the same rules, is a crucial element in building unity and cohesion.
Yet if one player is allowed to stroll in when the season is almost underway, then take another break because he wants to fight in a boxing match, it could easily create disharmony within the team.
A coach would surely find it difficult to preach about team ethos, when one player is treated differently to everyone else.
Additionally, will signing Williams to such a short term contract really be beneficial for the Roosters?
Most clubs have a long term strategy in place, with the entire club aiming to build and improve each year. It’s important that all individuals at the club feel like they’re working within a plan. Yet any speeches about having pride in the jersey or the emblem would be fairly hollow when everyone is well aware that the best player on the team is a mercenary – nothing more, nothing less.
In some respects, you can’t blame the Roosters. Sonny Bill Williams was one of the best rugby league players in the world when he left the NRL. If you have the chance to sign someone of that calibre, surely you take it?
I also don’t blame Williams for making as much money from sport as he possibly can. An athlete’s career is significantly shorter than most other professions, and you need to maximise your earnings. You never know when it will all stop, with a career-ending injury always a distinct possibility. As such, I never question an athlete who chases the coin.
However, knowing that your career could finish in the blink of an eye means that you should protect yourself. Signing a short term contract puts your long term earning potential at great risk.
Therefore, I’m not sure a one year contract benefits anyone, Williams’ wallet aside.
The Roosters receive an exceptional physical talent, but any sports follower will tell you that it takes more than talent to win a premiership. The club must be stronger than just one player.
Meanwhile, Williams risks his long term earning potential. And his already shaky legacy will hardly be boosted by him signing a short term contract. Sonny Bill has the potential to be an all-time great. But at the moment, he’s only at risk of becoming an all-time great at earning a dollar.
Again, while I don’t begrudge him that, I also don’t think being an all-time great and earning a lot of money have to appear to be so mutually exclusive.
Ra
Guest
won't happen bj - one year of SBW is money in the bank for any code - ya gotta know that
Ra
Guest
i wish i was SBW - all those choices - but then, just how much does it really take to keep a body looking like that, just to put bums on seats, thousands if not millions of bums i must add, all over the world, in grandstands, on coaches, in bars and clubs, classrooms and playgrounds - there's no argument - yeah I'd love to be SBW; i just don't want to put in all that hard work, on myself, just for a bunch of couch potatoes to sprout over, but I'd do it for the millions who enjoyed the moments I shared with them, and just like SBW, because I wanted to, and could - man I wish I was SBW - good on ya son !!!
Ra
Guest
Yes bro that's because rugby league was banned in schools at the time. It was seen as a bro's game played by the lower class of society. A lot of kids who chose to play league were treated badly by schools, teachers and society back in the 1960's - 1980's in NZ - someone really needs to do a thesis on it.
Eddie
Guest
What I wanna know is-would he play for NSW if they asked him? Sonny Bill playing Origin-now that drama/ tornado /frenzy I'd LOVE to see!!
Kim Hart
Guest
My two cents - great footballer but I'd have nothing to do with him until I was sure he was free of Koder Nassers/Choc's influence.
Justin2
Guest
Classic - talk abhout pulling out some pearlers. Before Union SBW has been to Penrith and Brisbane! Wow...
Tui
Guest
hahaha I would take most places over Cronulla as well. Penrith with a beach, full of bogan women and sooooo far away. Roosters looks far better living in Paddington.
D Maaga
Guest
there was more than just offloading the ball in beetson game something sbw fail to do in rugby.
D Maaga
Guest
you can say anything about the mayor of dunedin and economic conditions but i'm just correcting you that there were no nz super teams that were in financial trouble last year.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The best offloader in the game was a guy named Arthur Beetson. Description: LEGEND
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I spelt out what the Dunedin mayor stated in reference to the clubs involved.Do I need to fly over,and put a flag down? And you are still ignoring the fact that economic conditions are affecting many clubs from many codes.You will not accept it.That is living in a bubble.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Love is blind DM.Money has a tendency to make people see clearly for whatvere reason.specially when you dump initially on your mates.
Balmainslipperyeel
Guest
How true is that...he's a typical gen y. Thinks the world owes him something and has no integrity, as evidenced by his dishonouring his contract with the bulldogs. The guy shouldn't be allowed to play in the NRL again...what short memories people have.
D Maaga
Guest
Having a better off-loading than your teammates doesn't make you a legend or a great player.
D Maaga
Guest
blame him for what? your the one who said a nz super team was in financial trouble last year and you haven't yet mention which one of the five nz super teams.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well blame the Dunedin mayor DM,after all he is a Kiwi.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I am not suggesting the NZ RU is in trouble Emric geez mate.I am trying very hard to get through the point that everywhere in this world, there are teams that at some stage or currently are being affected by economic conditions.It happened in the UK,Australia and NZ.If DM thinks everything is rosy in NZ ,he is deluded. And I don't have to live in NZ/the UK/USA to understand a liitle about the economic climate. It affects NRL clubs in this country.To suggest NZ sport is immune form what is happening globally on the fnance front,beggars belief.People either don't have the money to spend ,or are wary of doing so for fear of losing their jobs.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I stated I watch the ABs and their style of play.RU pundits in the print media described it(the test) as a tough game,but not entertaining partly because of a pedantic referees. If you cannot handle descriptions by people, who actually attended,then I can't help.Some complained about too many kicks for goal. There have been ordinary SOO games and I am the first to admit it. It would be nice DM if on the odd occasion, you could admit it happens in your code(as others have done). When you described the Sharks as playing the most boring rugby,you brought me into the argument,because that is bollocks.Maybe so last year.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
For one of the very few occasions ,I actually agree with you.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
A device that sits on my loung room table gave me the information.It's called a Tv set. Petero's dad also preferred ru.That bears no relevance to the comments of the player in question ie Tahu