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Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith believes Sonny Bill Williams can return to the NRL better than the dominant force who walked out on the code four years ago.
While Smith refused to confirm All Blacks centre Williams would make his 2013 return to rugby league with the Roosters, the veteran coach had no doubts about his potential impact.
After a few years finding his feet in rugby union, Williams has become a pivotal figure for both the All Blacks and Super Rugby-leading Chiefs, but will come back to rugby league to honour a handshake agreement.
“I’ve got some mates involved in rugby around the world … they’ve talked to me about what his influence has been on the game,” Smith told AAP on Wednesday.
“They’re all pretty much in awe when they’ve spoken to me about him.
“I’ve watched him play for the All Blacks and a little bit for the Chiefs and he’s been – I’m no expert on rugby union – but he looks like a damm good player to me at that level.”
As for what he could do back in rugby league, Smith said: “He was a terrific footy player before he left.
“He’s still at an age and he’s in the sort of shape you would think that he can be better than he was before he left.”
That’s an ominous thought for any NRL side that comes up against Williams in 2013 given the way he used to terrorise both defenders and attackers during his time with Canterbury.
No one seems to quite understand why his long-mooted move to the Roosters has not been confirmed, Smith doing little on Wednesday to confirm the deal.
“Would we like to be running off his passes or tackling him? I’m sure that most players, most clubs, most coaches would laugh at you if you asked him to give an answer on that,” Smith said.
“When those sorts of guys for whatever reason come on the market like that, you can’t help but think ‘wow, that guy would do a great job’.”
Having gone up against him on several occasions, Roosters veteran Anthony Minichiello said he would jump at the chance to play alongside Williams.
His probable arrival – along with that of Warriors pivot James Maloney – could also provide Minichiello with an appropriate send-off in what is likely to be his last year in the NRL.
“He does some pretty special things on the field,” Minichiello said.
“He holds the ball like a tennis ball. I’d love to run off him, that’s for sure.”
It would also add some extra spice to Bulldogs-Roosters matches – which already have a bit of feeling given the flow of players from Belmore to Bondi in recent years.
Bulldogs fullback Ben Barba – who made his NRL debut the same week Williams quit the club – rejected talk of any hard feelings towards the dual international.
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to look after yourself and he did that and that’s his decision,” Barba said.
“Sonny was definitely a big part of the club when he was there and I’m happy that he’s coming back (to the NRL).”
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