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Sonny Bill Williams: Should we believe the hype?

19th February, 2013
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Sonny Bill Williams is back in the ring for the rugby off-season. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Roar Guru
19th February, 2013
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1797 Reads

There he was, the centrepiece of Channel Nine’s marketing for the 2013 NRL season. Shirt off, oiled up and an imposing, muscular figure in the TV shot.

Sonny William (‘Bill’) Williams, the 27-year-old Aucklander and new signing by the Sydney Roosters.

Both Channel Nine and the NRL, not to mention the Roosters, have invested a lot in the ex-Bulldogs, ex-Toulon, ex-Crusaders, ex-Chiefs, ex-Wild Knights player.

It’s hard not to see why; he generates enormous media and public interest, and his presence should lead to bigger attendances and ratings.

But what is often forgotten in a lot of the hoopla is that he is a very good rugby league player. Or he was back when he walked out on the Dogs in 2008…

The most important question is, will he still be after five years out of the sport? After little training and off-season preparation with his new teammates?

That is the million-dollar question, or what ever the cashed-up boys in Bondi are paying the wannabe pugilist.

Rugby league has changed a lot since 2008. The shoulder charge, Williams’ forte, has gone, and there have been several rule changes. The amount of wrestling has increased and the competition might be just that little bit fiercer and tougher. Williams won’t have an easy ride.

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Working in his favour, in my view, is the trend in recent years is the similarity of rugby union and rugby league. The two games have become a lot more interwined with similar tactics and strategies.

Defences in rugby have become a lot better and more structured thanks to league’s influence. There is a lot more attacking second-man plays in rugby now, the bread and butter of modern league, and the variety of attacking kicks such as grubbers close to the line (see the Brumbies’ opening try on Saturday night) and banana kicks.

The two sports appear closer now than they were in 2008, which should help SBW, remembering too it was his sport of choice as a youth. But it will still take some time for him to adapt to the greater speed and intensity of the NRL.

There are more breaks and stoppages in union, less the trench-warfare style of attrition. How Williams’ body holds up, so fragile at the Bulldogs, will be interesting to see.

It might not be until the final rounds of the competition that we see him fully adapt back to the rigours of rugby league and appear comfortable with his new teammates and surroundings, to get used to the Roosters style of play and the different demands.

Williams will bring a lot of things to the NRL in 2013 – interest, ratings, media hype and more spotlight – but a premiership to the eastern suburbs won’t be one of them.

Follow John on Twitter @johnnyddavidson

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