Sonny Bill Williams is expected to get game time off the bench when he makes his return to rugby union after two seasons in the NRL.
The dual international will join Counties Manukau on Monday, two days before their national provincial championship fixture against Auckland in Pukekohe.
That match will be 12 days after defending NRL champions the Sydney Roosters, with Williams in the second row, lost their preliminary final to South Sydney.
Williams signed for the Steelers for the 2015 and 2016 seasons as he aims for next year’s World Cup and the sevens at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The New Zealand Rugby Union ruled that the 29-year-old didn’t have to appear in this year’s NPC to be eligible for All Blacks’ northern hemisphere tour in November.
But Counties Manukau chief executive Andrew Maddock says Williams confirmed soon after the Roosters’ defeat on Friday night that he wanted to turn out for the Steelers.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” Maddock said.
“I think he just felt he wanted to win that [All Blacks] position on merit and also get some rugby time under his belt.”
Williams will also be available for Counties Manukau’s last match of the regular season, away to Tasman on October 12.
Maddock said he expected Williams would want to play on if the Steelers managed to lift themselves from sixth place and get into the top-four play-offs.
He said news of Williams’ impending arrival had created a buzz in the province.
“We started the season holding the Ranfurly Shield,” he said.
“That’s gone now, but there’s something else to get excited about.”
Williams switched from rugby league to union in 2008 to join French club Toulon, where he played under present Steelers coach Tana Umaga.
His previous taste of the NPC came in 2010, when he represented Canterbury soon after finishing at Toulon.
He made his All Blacks debut later that year and gained a total of 19 caps and was in the 2011 World Cup-winning squad before leaving in 2012 to play a season in Japan. He then returned to rugby league.
rugby chick
Guest
SBW has already arrived back home in NZ. He was seen yesterday in Papakura,Auckland with his cousin Tim-Nani Williams.
Dru
Guest
Well done Sonny Bill.
All Bent Out of Shape.
Guest
Good.
rugby chick
Guest
Well said, Play the Game. I look forward to seeing SBW come off the bench in The ITM Cup game with Counties at Pukekohe Stadium next Wednesday,8 October. A real pleasure to have him back home in NZ playing Rugby Union again. Such a classy,down to earth humble person he is.
Play the Game
Guest
Tana Umaga is a mate and a mentor to SBW. He is playing to show respect to Tana, to his teammates at Counties and to the AB's by playing as soon as possible and no disrespect to the Roosters. He is totally committed to do his best. Class act.
Andrew George
Roar Guru
A lot more than your proposed "many" actually are Mark. I must admit that this blokes professional approach in the way he conducts himself and endears himself to team mates and fans is a great example to future athletes. The reason he backs up so well.?? Doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, doesn't rampage around the town and apparently stretches an hour first thing in the morning every day!! If the worlds biggest brand in rugby - The All Blacks - is welcoming him back with open arms ... the same brand that was willing to drop Jonah Lomu ... this bloke is doing something VERY right. It's not like the All Blacks are struggling to win games or fill stadiums at the moment.
Mark Skinner
Roar Rookie
Really. Many rugby fans are not on the edge of their seats waiting the return of sbwy
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Talk about commitment and professionalism. sbw had no lesson to receive from anyone. That's how you gain respect from your teammates.
mike
Guest
has sbw ever heard of burnout? the title "the world is not enough" surely belongs to him!!!