I smell a rat with this Sonny Bill Williams back-flip: he’s unavailable for the Rugby League World Cup – what a shame. Then he is suddenly back and raring to go again – yay – after a sudden change of mind and dare I say, heart.
Sonny Bill Williams scored a heap of publicity in the past season for his celebrated ‘handshake’ deal with Roosters’ boss Nick Politis.
We were told that is why he left the Waikato Chiefs in Super Rugby to honour an agreement he made with Politis many moons ago.
Well, he certainly got to the Roosters after a rugby stint in Japan and a boxing bout somewhere or other.
And yes, he had a wonderful season in which he iced the cake with a devastating 20 minute display in the NRL grand final to steal the thunder from likely winners, Manly.
Our eyes then turned immediately to the league’s World Cup. Would the superstar, superhuman Williams be turning out for the Kiwis, even though he was being seriously courted by the Chiefs to make a return to Super Rugby?
“No thanks, I am unavailable,” said the player the sycophantic types at Channel Nine all-but call ‘The Great Man’.
Well, I might be old fashioned but saying ‘no’ to the World Cup was The Great Man’s Word, his own personal gospel, and I thought that would be that. The Kiwi team was duly picked and contained the name of Melbourne’s exciting young back-rower Tohu Harris.
I thought: OK, Harris is a big talent on the rise. He gets his chance because Williams had ruled himself out of contention.
But no! The Great Man suddenly feels like a spot of RL WC action. He claims he made up his mind way too early.
Sorry, but it does not wash with me. There is a distinct smell of rodent here and I don’t like it, not even a skerrick.
Williams, we were told, is a man of his word. That handshake deal was honoured and he duly turned up at Bondi Junction pending an OK to his contract by the NRL.
I suspect that SBW really didn’t want to play in league’s World Cup because he had a boxing thingy coming up in the off-season, as well as a rugby club to re-join.
My guess – an educated guess – is that Sonny Bill’s manager Khoder Nasser had a fair bit to do with this controversial about-face.
Maybe the boxing thingy wasn’t going to come off, or wasn’t as lucrative as first thought. Perhaps the manager saw more dollars to be made by parading his star client at league’s World Cup for a month or so.
I’d like to place a call and put it squarely on the manager but that would prove to be a serious waste of time and energy.
I have dealt with Khoder Nasser many times in the past when I was exec-producer of a sports radio show.
I could never say that Nasser’s word was his bond. He changed liked the wind and was as reliable as the proverbial two-bob watch.
He made numerous promises that were not kept; probably never were going to be kept, once made.
I can reveal I never liked dealing with this character. It was smoke and mirrors with him all the way and I cannot believe that an athlete of Sonny Bill’s vast abilities ran with him then, and is still doing so now.
When all is said and done re SBW and League’s World Cup, I predict we will one day read a story that the player did not want to compete and had his mind ‘changed’ well after the deadline by his manager.
It is all very well to say that the tournament will be better for SBW’s presence and that his contribution for New Zealand League will be immense. But I truly believe that Williams is a good and genuine person, a man of his word, and that he’ll be hurting because of this very public back-flip, more than likely engineered by manager Nasser.
As fellow Roarer Ryan O’Connell wrote here yesterday, this controversy will probably be long forgotten by the time the World Cup gets underway.
But it won’t be forgotten by this writer and many other followers of the code.
The about-face by SBW reeks. And I firmly believe the resultant character assassinations have not been of his own doing.
ross
Guest
Lyon is what he is ask Sterlo although he wont tell you now what he he really thinks of him despite what he says on channel 9
ross
Guest
you are kidding i dont even know the player that SBW replaced which sums it up a neville nobody replaced by a legend in SBW suck it up mate your a nobody like harris just jealous that you cannot do what he (SBW) can.
ross
Guest
ha ha ha jealous mate that you are a nobody unlike them ha ha ha get back to your laboring work epod
ross
Guest
SBW like him or not you dont make money out of league as you would from football (soccer) where their are players playing that game with less talent for that particular football code than SBW has when playing league and or union. most of the socceroos for a instance get paid more than most league players and for what two 6 to 0 defeats in a row. Harry Kewell for instance earned more in a month that most league players did in a season when playing for liverpool- sure bigger market bigger leagues etc but you dont have to earn the money like you have to do when playing league or union or afl for that matter. football (soccer) players should get on their knees and pray to receive such money for a very much limited physical sport. good on SBW take the money when offered as your career is very short in such a physical games as league and union is.
hemi
Guest
im not a big fan of SBW,but I admit he is an awesome rugby league player.i honestly think NZ would of been alright without him,but having him in the team it does give them the x factor they lacked the past few years.hopefully he plays a really good tournament and doesn't get injured or all the SBW haters will have more crap to throw around.at the end of the day whats done is done,leave it be and just enjoy the worldcup.GO KIWIS!!!!
craig Sonnberg
Guest
Just play Sb I admired you as a union rep and you where the bf for the roosters so whats the hold up from an AUssie lge and union nut and I admire footballers so do not do the game a disservice in playing for yourself play for NZ in the cup after all would 'nt he like dual WC medals even though I am barracking for the Kangaroos that's how I would see it if I where SB Williams
Damien
Roar Guru
Wii, Sorry I didn't actually answer some of your questions. You can't use my 'logic' on the Caucasian players. I can only confidently speak of the Tongan/Samoan/Fijian players because I grew up and still run in those circles. My statements are not logical in regards to other cultures, it's just the way it is in the 3 cultures that run deep with me. I don't know much about the Cook/Maori social norms but they don't have much to do with what I'm talking about. As I said before I don't need to search Google these matters. The coconut wireless gives me all the 'real' info I need..LOL. Not the censored version that ends up in the paper. I know this is a pretty old article (I wrote it in Nov '11) but it deals with rugby issues in the Pacific. The comments were quite interesting. If you're interested in Pacific Rugby give it a read. http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/02/where-to-now-for-pacific-rugby/
Damien
Roar Guru
Wii, The good thing bout the Roar is that we all have a platform to air our opinions. I got no dramas with you disagreeing with me. I personally thing you're wrong end of story. But thats cool. So we disagree. No biggie. So you think Matai wasn't paying well enough to be selected for the Kiwis ? Which 2 Kiwi centres would you have over him ?. Even if you were right doesn't it just confirm my point that island players or in this case Samoan players want to play the Kiwis/Oz first with their 'heritage' country second ?. I never once (meant to) suggest that Moa wasn't Kiwi enough. Of course he is. He was born but thats not my point and its pointless getting into this discussion on this forum which is more politics than sport. Okay so taking your point of view do you think its right that Moa playing for Tonga and Matai playing for Samoa is OK given that they really just wanted to play for the Kiwis. So a kid that actually wants to play for Tonga/Samoa misses out ?
watcher
Guest
I don't blame SBW for this. I blame the NZ Selectors. They chose a squad and although Sonny changed his mind that squad should have stayed. SBW should be in the team but changed his mind to be available after it was selected. The response should have been 'Too late mate'. Call me old fashioned but there are principles here.
Wii
Guest
I think again you have posted a lot of hyperbole here and trying to instill your own personal views on To the roar. You are quite simply wrong end of story. Matua is only playing for Samoa because it was u likely he would continue to be selected for the Kiwis. If we were to,use your logic on Polynesian players why are the Caucasian players not turning out for England, Wales, Scotland etc? Or is it only those of us with brown skin that have some loyalty to,our heritage. Again I say to you do some research even Charlie Tonga the Tongan coach readily admits Sam Moa wanted to play for his country that being New Zealand he (Sam) sees himself as a New Zealander much the same as SBW well he is half white and also myself. born and raised here or lived here most of our lives. Who are you to say that we don't or aren't Kiwis. I am a Kiwi first who happens to be of Māori and Cook Island heritage. Going on your opinion I should if good enough be playing for the Cooks. It's a narrow minded view and quite unreal that you even try to claim Sam is not a Kiwi although you don't say it directly you do pretty much say this but in a very long winded way.
Wii
Guest
Ra do a google search Sam always wanted to play for the Kiwis even Charlie Tonga admits that. Sam sees himself as a Kiwi and played for Tonga when he couldn't break into the NZ squad
kelefua
Guest
"My guess – an educated guess – is that Sonny Bill’s manager Khoder Nasser had a fair bit to do with this controversial about-face" Tim how does one educate themselves to read minds? Unless SBW told you this himself its quite an accusation to make. It's more of an insult to SBW as you're suggesting Nasser plays him like a puppet. I don't think it's morally right NZ Rugby League dropping young Harris to accommodate SBW. The kid & his family have every right to be angry/disappointed. But like some have said above SBWs presence will generate a whole new level of interest in the World Cup. More fans from both rugby codes will tune in. The guy is a trophy magnet so the Kiwis had to make the call.
TREX
Guest
Something tells me that all this SBW haters have something more personal why they hate him and I bet you it has nothing to do with making himself available for the Kiwis 24 hours late. Not so much those on this thread but everyone on social media. Main reasons for hating SBW 1. His cultural background 2. His religion 3. Walking out on the Bulldogs 4. His good looks 5. Mundine 6. The religion and background of those around him 7. His success
TREX
Guest
Amen BROTHER
upfromdown
Guest
Ra, I am over it but I am also allowed to provide my thoughts as much as you are. I think it is good for the World Cup but is it right thing to do? No chance. This is a team sport, not an individual sport and the players that are admired are the talented game changing players but also those that are team players as well. SBW has proven that he is not the team player he could be so for all his achievements things like this tarnish his reputation. Same goes for the likes of Anthony Mundine, James O'Connor - by the way I am not comparing them in terms of achievements just in terms of public perception.
TREX
Guest
The NRL TV ratings this year has been shocking so I don't think SBW plying for the Kiwi's will change that. A replay of the All Blacks vs Springboks game the next day outrate the NRL grand final The talk in New Zealand at the moment is when is SBW coming to play for the Chiefs not the RLWC..
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
a bit of an over reaction there.
TREX
Guest
Harris time will come.
TREX
Guest
Well this Kiwi and many more supports SBW decision so take a hike bro and stop pretending you know Kiwis and take your personal vendetta against SBW some where else.
Ra
Guest
Tim I've been sniffing around for that stink you highlighted in your heading, but all I'm sensing is a stronger smell of confidence permeating from the Kiwi camp - is that the smell you were referring to??? Or was it your own negative feeling from not being able to settle deals with SBW's manager??? The first is our business, and the second is all yours. Keep it eh??