Multiple outlets are reporting that All Blacks international Sonny Bill Williams is considering a move back to rugby league after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, as a member of the English Super League’s Toronto Wolfpack.
The UK’s League Weekly quoted Wolfpack David Argyle as saying they’d have one of the top five rugby players in the world joining the club next season. RugbyPass have since reported that this man is Sonny Bill Williams.
The 33-year-old is out of contract with both the Blues and NZRU this season and, given his age and history with league, it’s not unreasonable to believe an interest in switching codes is there.
Williams – a native of Auckland – started his NRL career in 2004 with the Bulldogs at just 18 years old. He quickly rose to prominence as one of the game’s brightest young stars, before leaving the club in controversial circumstances to join French rugby club Toulon in 2008.
His Super Rugby career has seen him play stints at the Crusaders, Chiefs and, currently, the Blues.
His rugby career also included a two-year stint at Japan’s Panasonic Wild Knights, before a two-year return to the NRL with the Sydney Roosters in 2013 and 2014.
He’s represented the All Blacks on 51 occasions since making his debut in 2010, while also playing for New Zealand’s rugby league team 12 times.
Williams has also occasionally stepped into the ring as a boxer, winning all seven of his professional bouts since his 2009 debut – three by knockout.
Neither Williams, the Wolfpack, All Blacks nor Blues have commented on the news as of yet.
Mark W
Guest
If they're getting one of the top five rugby players in the world then they weren't talking about SBW. He's still good but I doubt he'll be good enough to make the AB's starting lineup this year - impact off the bench probably for this year then gone from the squad completely by next year. Anton Leinert-Brown & Jack Goodhue are both far better players now and much younger. SBW is also still prone to brain-snaps at critical moments. This RWC will quite likely be the closest ever and the AB's need to have their absolute best squad. If the reports are correct ($5m for 1yr) he would be mad to turn it down. He's on the slippery downward slope of his career in NZ now so should move while his game is still fairly good and profile still high. Another year and he won't be an All Black at all I reckon.
Jacko
Guest
i agree Julz......Anyone being offered $5mil for 1 season would need a fantastic reason to turn that down......The irony is his rugby profile is what is making him so wanted by this League club......Im sure tedesco or Mitchell ( Latrall) would love $5mil for a year but no one over there has heard of those guys...even tho they would be better than SBW is these days......1 thing that is clear is that he has no ABs contract for 2020 and wont be getting 1 the way he played last year.....
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Absolutely.
Julz
Guest
He better off joining a rugby union team than league. Muricans only know rugby. But if its 5 million (nz$) offer that hes getting, then he should take it.
AJ
Guest
Hand on heart I had never heard of them til this article.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Sorry. I’m wrong. I had $750k a year in my head. That was the settlement not the contract. It was $400k, which was 10% of the cap at the time.
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
Pretty sure he was nowhere near 20 percent twas. The Bulldogs doctors told him his knee was buggered and he wouldn't last the 5 years and the club offered him something around 300k a year . A club can break contracts just as quick. He also borrowed money from mundine and paid the dog's. I agreebelieve. I don't agree with how it panned out but at least he has owned his actions and publicly. I agree Piru its over the top.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That’s a completely different situation Ralph. With fixed term contracts in a salary cap era the Dogs missed out on other players and even had to let some go, on the basis they had SBW for 5 years. If he wound up a dud, they were still stuck with him for 5 years. Even say for next season they were ok as they could replace SBW, a bloke that was about 20% of their cap walked out mid season, impossible to replace during a season.
In Brief
Guest
Does anyone else find the hype from TWP a bit nauseating??
In Brief
Guest
Funny thing is that's how you fellas talk about all rival codes - then you wonder why no one takes you seriously.
Old Bugger
Guest
Absolutely agree Ralph. He's 33 I believe so any future deal that screams "superannuation and retirement fund" deserves more than just a look-over......it deserves a signature. Good luck SBW and finish this year on a personal three-peat then, go play tiddly-winks in Canada.
piru
Roar Rookie
Yeah fair point He seems to cop it for nearly everything he does though
Ralph
Roar Guru
Shrug. Even if it happened exactly as you say, which I can't be sure of, young people make mistakes all the time. I had one young employee go back to India for a holiday and then never come back. No notice, no email, nothing. Just kept waiting for him to show up. Now he's a senior partner at Deloitte's, lol. If you lead a mistake free existence then throw stones. But for me, I am not your judge.
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
Yes, but he didn't give notice or negotiate a release or anything, just hopped on a plane to France in the midde of the night and the middle of the season
piru
Roar Rookie
He's hardly the first one to quit mid contract though.
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
Walking out on a Bulldogs contract was pretty low
Ralph
Roar Guru
In my opinion, whatever happens at the RWC, by the end of this year he will have achieved everything that might have been on his wish list all those years ago. At 30 with a family and ageing body to manage I think he should follow the money. Good luck to him I say.
piru
Roar Rookie
I really don't get the Sonny Bill hate - so many people so ready to tear him down, but what has he ever done to deserve it?
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Hopefully he stays in union. I never want to see him back in league ,either here or at the nth pole. Only wish he would accept the fight with Paul Gallon.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
At one time, SBW was the NZ Heavyweight title holders, a title that he had to relinquish, due to his failure to accept, the challenge of one, Joseph Parker.