New Sydney Roosters boss Brian Canavan says Sonny Bill Williams would be a welcome addition to the NRL, but claims he doesn’t know if the dual international will be at his club next season.
Williams told Fairfax newspapers at the weekend his move to the Roosters in 2012 was a “done deal”, but Canavan says he knows nothing.
“Because I haven’t stepped into the finances, salary cap or player list world at this stage,” Canavan told a media scrum in Sydney on Tuesday.
“Today’s my first meeting with the staff list.”
But asked if Williams was someone he was interested in having at the Roosters, Canavan said: “The game’s personally interested in him. He’s a wonderful player and rugby league would love to have him back.”
Canavan, who returns to the Roosters after quitting the club in 2008 following 15 years’ previous service, said any baggage Williams might bring would be “pretty good baggage”.
“You’re referring to the five years ago baggage – we’re all different after five years,” he said.
“None of us were inside the Canterbury club at that time so I don’t know what transpired there.”
Williams the part-time boxer is focusing on his fight next month with South African heavyweight Francois Botha, but the World Cup-winning All Black said his move to the tricolours was inevitable after making a handshake agreement with Roosters chairman Nick Politis.
“It’s a done deal. I made it a long time ago,” the 27-year-old told The Sun Herald.
“I know where I’m playing next year and I’m ready to meet the challenge head-on.”
Canavan was also coy about the prospect of Williams’ stablemate, disenchanted Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper, running out for the Roosters next season.
“His name hasn’t been mentioned but the player list hasn’t really been in my discussions,” he said.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
No sirree ATT my understanding was junior players were exempt .
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Every man and his dog knows he will be only at the club for a limited time,in between boxing committments etc. They could probably do with him to defend that title,as it may give them not only an opportunity to actually score tries. but to provide a little variety in attack.
eagleJack
Guest
You are forgetting about one influential person in SBW's life who only works via the handshake deal. Nothing is written but whatever is said with Khoder over coffee is honoured 100%
Pot Stirrer
Guest
And just how would you know this? Read in the telecrap did you ? If it was a handshake deal it would be between those 2 only,
allblackfan
Guest
wouldn't apply. SBW was originally an NRL player. The way I heard it (and I may be wrong), provision was made for salary cap exemption if an NRL club recruited a diehard rugby player (ie Quade Cooper or Dan Carter) in retaliation for Aust rugby raids on NRL back in early 2000s
yewonk
Guest
what about the salary cap exception for him being a union player.
mushi
Roar Guru
No more risky than getting him to sign a contract!
allblackfan
Guest
It smeels even funnier, GCTIger, considering that SBW will be in the NRL for one year before returning to NZ rugby (he made no secret of his desire to help the ABs defend their RWC title in 2015). That must have been some handshake! An $800,000 handshake?
GCTiger
Guest
Cheers, Hardly a "Hand shake" deal then. Risky investment as well considering he had just done a mid night runner. Still don't feel confortable that it was a NRL board member doing this. Seem pretty corrupt to me.
eagleJack
Guest
Politis stumped up the majority of the $800k that SBW had to pay the Dogs for breaking his contract. Anthony Mundine picked up the residual. At the time I'm sure Politis imagined he would get SBW to the Roosters for atleast a few years. But that has transpired into only one. Expensive investment.
GCTiger
Guest
I would still like to know why an NRL board member "Nick politis" made a hand shake deal with SBW 4 years ago when the NRL was still deciding to ban him for 5 years or life. Still seems strange that he would make a deal with the Roosters all that time ago when he was hated by most league fans didn't have any intention on coming back as he "Wanted to be an All Black". Some thing smells funny.
David
Guest
Good to see ya back Sonny playing a real game. I always knew you would be back. The NRL is just too good to leave. I wish you would come and play for Parra though.