Dragons ready to use $250,000 De Belin dollars in bid to lure Sonny Bill
Michael Chammas
July 22, 2020 — 12.01am
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St George Illawarra are considering using salary cap dispensation for Jack de Belin to lure Sonny Bill Williams to the club for the remainder of the season if the stood-down forward is denied the right to return in 2020.
The Dragons' priority remains to see De Belin - who is sidelined under the NRL's no-fault rule - return this year, but the club is preparing a $250,000 contingency plan should a pre-trial hearing later this month result in him being required to face court on rape charges at the end of the year.
The St George Illawarra Dragons will make a play for Sonny Bill Williams, pending the situation with Jack de Belin.Credit
A Images
The NRL will offer the Dragons salary cap dispensation based on the proportion of De Belin's $600,000 contract for a like-for-like replacement. With three months remaining in the rugby league year, the Dragons will be given dispensation of around $150,000 on top of the estimated $100,000 they have remaining in the 2020 cap - and they are considering using that cash to attract Williams to the club.
Given the pay reduction the NRL players agreed to for the remainder of the season in light of COVID-19, Williams would collect around half of that money - but he is also entitled to 55 per cent of his $5 million deal with Toronto,
despite the club being removed from the Super League in 2020 after struggling to cope with the financial impact of the pandemic.
The Sydney Roosters are the most logical destination for Williams, given his strong ties to the club with whom he won a premiership back in 2013, but the tri-colours aren't convinced the dual international wants to return to the NRL for a cameo appearance to finish the season despite making inquiries on Tuesday.
Sources close to the Williams camp believe it is more likely the 34-year-old will fight former Cronulla captain Paul Gallen at the end of the year than make an NRL comeback. However, several clubs have reached out to his agent.
Sonny Bill Williams throws a left at Chauncy Welliver during their heavyweight bout in 2015.Credit:Mark Metcalfe
When contacted by the
Herald, William's long-time manager Khoder Nasser admitted he had not spoken to Williams about his next career move given the time difference between Australia and his temporary home in Manchester.
Nasser was reluctant to speculate on his client's future until the pair had spoken, but admitted there was plenty of interest in his services. A third stint in the NRL for William would likely prove a ratings bonanza and provide a commercial advantage for any club that can land his signature.
The New Zealand Warriors are keen for Williams to join the club for the rest of the year, but it remains to be seen if the former All Black will risk a $5 million deal with Toronto for next season by playing a handful of games in a competition he has previously conquered.
The Warriors are also in the market for De Belin from next year, willing to pay him in excess of $700,00 to cross the ditch and link with the struggling club if he manages to prove his innocence amidst rape charges.
The Dragons have also opened negotiations with De Belin for next season, with chief executive Ryan Webb admitting they were hopeful of sorting out a deal in the coming weeks.
"We met with Jack to see if he had a desire to stay with the club, and if there were any questions that he had around the club’s position moving forward or our actions in the past," Webb said on Monday.
"I don’t think anyone could foresee this taking 18 months to play out, potentially two years. So I think it’s definitely worth another conversation with the NRL. Jack came back and said we’re definitely in his considerations moving forward, which is what we wanted to hear.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dr...n-bid-to-lure-sonny-bill-20200721-p55e5k.html
