Sonny Bill Williams says signing with Toronto Wolfpack was “meant to be”.
“It was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Williams told a media scrum at London’s Emirates Stadium. “It’s great what Toronto have done and what they’re trying to achieve.
“I’m grateful and blessed for this opportunity but understand what I’m coming into,”
“It all lined up and as a man of faith I thought it was just meant to be.”
So now he’s off to Toronto to be paid more than the entire Hull Kingston Rovers because, apparently, God has a cunning plan. And it is this: God wants Sonny Bill to be happy.
And it seems Sonny Bill signing with a Super League team from Toronto, Canada, that plays rugby league in England will make Sonny Bill happy.
The $10 million won’t hurt either, one would surmise, but perhaps it’s more a bonus. Like a by-product of Sonny Bill being blessed by God to play rugby league in England.
Like: I am blessed by God to be playing rugby league in England for a team from Canada. That is the blessing.
The money is like… y’know, just something that goes into my bank account. Electronic digits. What’s important is that God wants me to play rugby league in England for a team from Canada.
Just as God wants Bernhard Langer to keep winning golf tournaments, and Donald Trump to be impeached and go to jail, God wants Sonny Bill to play rugby league in England. And in Canada. And in France, too, occasionally, and wherever the game is played.
And who is Sonny Bill to argue?
Sonny Bill Williams (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
Who is Sonny Bill to turn down $10 million? If this is what God wants for Sonny Bill?
It’s clear God wants to bless Sonny Bill and give him the “opportunity” to play rugby league and be paid $10 mill. Sonny can’t turn it down.
Because it’s a top opportunity, gifted by God, to play footy in England. And Sonny Bill can’t turn it down.
Because the opportunity to play footy in the north of England does not come along every day!
And for sure, the $10 million would have little to do with Sonny Bill’s decision.
Ten mill! Who cares?
Because sign with Toronto Wolfpack and count your blessings, baby.
Because Toronto, like Ron Burgundy says of San Diego, is fun city.
There’s the revolving CN Tower in which one can eat a nice lunch.
There’s Casa Loma, a stately home with seasonal gardens.
There’s a cemetery. One of Toronto’s landmarks is a cemetery.
There is the weather which is good for ice hockey, or indeed ice anything. Poke a little finger out the window some days, it’s instant popsicle.
The other day it was -17C. Coldest ever recorded was -33C. With the wind chill factor – the ever important wind chill factor – it was minus forty-four degree Celsius.
Granted people are not wandering the stately gardens of Casa Loma or playing rugby league when it’s that cold.
But nor are they preferring it to a beach in the Bay of Plenty.
Unless God gave them $10 mill.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
That chip on his shoulder seems to be permanent CC!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
That's OK clip, we always know you'll eventually make an appearance ,if there's any opportunity to deride rugby league ,either here or overseas. SBW's signing for an overseas rl club, appears to have had an unsettling effect. Why Scomo was brought into this ,is beyond human understanding.
clipper
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the compliment cc - yes, I have been busy, but I'm back now. Why would this article annoy me JK? I commended Matt on it.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
Wow! Some chips on some shoulders in this thread. I’m so glad I grew up playing all 3 codes and played top league union in Japan until I was 37. I loved them all and still do. Why hate on another sport... Another bonus is the surf in Japan pumps too. Good on SBW and I hope he has as much fun as I have traveling the world, making coin and doing it with his family as well.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
While rugby is played all over the world in universities it is only in NZ and South Africa that is not a minor football code. It is played by students who aren't at university because of their footy skills. Rugby league is serious hence the viewers on TV who like the contest as opposed to the Shute Shield played before a few friends and relatives. The friends that played rugby played because it was not serious but a good fun game giving them good exercise.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Up to you. But citing an incident from 16 years ago is a bit silly.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
So he has recently found his faith. Should we ignore recent history as well?
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Hell yeah
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
And the NRL certainly stuffed up in Tassie as you well know JK.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Well said CC. Look at all the interest in so many countries wanting a place in the nrl and esl comps. Across Australia and the South Pacific there has been interest from over a dozen consortiums in the past 5 years. The demand is real. Our friends from the other code have tassie and nothing else. If only we had the administrators with the vision to take the game to its full potential. We live in hope.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
SBW was a great league player. He’s more suited to league imho and I think this move is a very good one for him.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
I think he was referring to the all blacks being the worlds most recognised rugby team, which, of course, they are.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well Nzmate.Be happy he (who played rl as a kid), played NRL with the Bulldogs,made his name in rugby union Internationally,mixed with time at the Roosters has chosen to finish his career playing the sport he started on ,and will be involved in helping develop the sport in a new frontier. Some of the sour grapes exhibited here, is worth the price of admission.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Once again your’e incorrect mama.The team play and live in Toronto from mid April. The SMH a rl paper??? As McEnroe would say”You can’t be serious.”
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well Gershwin your voyage of "discovery" didn't quite make the final destination,veered all off course actually.In fact the Wolfpack players live in England and Toronto (the latter, once the extreme climate is over and they play at home mid April). The Wellington Whisperers that you mentioned as an analogy, did not get the crowds nor interest in Wellington in the past in another guise, no entrepreneurs have stepped forward to put their hard earned in to back them.Perhaps they should be more concerned with Tasmania where there is interest. The club in fact got close on 10,000 in the last lower tier game.They intend to upgrade their old stadium to attract crowds in excess of 10,000.The intent is to grow the game there at grassroots, part of SBW's remit. The other ESL clubs (whilst initially reluctant)are now taking it seriously, because they will getter better gates,and business people have been in touch with the ESL expressing interest since the SBW announcement.
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
And as far as the most recognized team in the world i think Manchester United and the St George's 11 premierships in a row is pretty recognized feats.
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
Oh i am from NSW and i played Rugby League for over 30 years and i have heard of SBW just hadn't heard anything about him for years till now.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
I think david argyle has a pretty good idea what he’s doing. It’s worked so far.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Yes. This is pretty god botherer free if you ask me.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
This article obviously annoyed him CC. Can’t help himself.