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Opinion

Sonny Bill Williams to the Roosters is just another marketing stunt by the NRL

24th July, 2020
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Roar Guru
24th July, 2020
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Sonny Bill Williams, the star forward, is not playing for the Toronto Wolfpack due to COVID-19 and the cancellation of the English Super League.

This has opened up a chance to return to the NRL, and the team it seems that he will go to will be his old club in the Sydney Roosters.

But will it be the right move for the Roosters? It seems it will be a swap deal and will be done in a matter of days but will he be the right player to bring in?

Let’s be honest, he is not the player he once was. Also it could be impossible to get him into the country with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the contract issues that surround this deal.

Moreover, what makes this deal complex is the fact Williams has a contract with Toronto for 2021. Fox Sports reported the deal is worth $5 million a year.

What is quite interesting is that there is a huge endorsement by ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys, who said: “He’s a big brand and he’ll attract a lot of attention to our sport”.

Peter V’landys

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

It seems the NRL is trying to stay relevant and by doing this is attracting a traitor of his national team, not to mention a traitor to Canterbury and many other clubs.

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He is maybe not the right option now in these times, especially due to the fact that Sonny Bill Williams is not an Australian citizen, which means he cannot enter the country and also would have to do a 14-day quarantine to add to the drama of the deal.

Moreover, it seems the Roosters have been the NRL’s puppet. Why don’t they help the Gold Coast Titans to be relevant again or help the New Zealand Warriors, who have saved the NRL’s season from falling apart?

You are telling me Sonny Bill Williams is your answer? He is a waste of money.

The Roosters must be careful if they do take the risk because Sonny Bill Williams has been injury-prone in the past and would be a risk for someone who has not played in six months.

In addition to this, will he be the right player for the Roosters?

Let’s just say they have one of the best players in the league with James Tedesco and Brett Morris, you are thinking of bringing in a mercenary in Sonny Bill Williams. Is he the answer? I don’t know.

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Why would you want Williams? Trent Robinson commented on Sonny Bill Williams by stating: “He’s a Rooster and he’s going to add value”.

This shows he wants him as a part of the brand, not that fact he still has to play and would have to bring the right chemistry to a highly valued side.

The pressure would be on the Roosters from the get-go and he would have to fit in straight away. We see when new players are in a new side the chemistry has not been there. Look at the Broncos’ and Wests Tigers’ new players, who came in and still can’t find their feet.

This is not to mention who would you replace for Sonny Bill Williams and would the likes of Tedesco take a pay cut so the deal can be done? Because I am guessing that Sonny Bill Williams will want the big bucks.

Overall, getting Sonny Bill Williams is a stunt and will not benefit the Roosters at all.

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