Is Sonny Bill bigger than the game ?

[ozbash]

I think he is, Sonny doesn't need league, but league certainly needs him.

He has been immortalised by the media (mainly through vilification) and is probably one of the biggest names in sport in this part of the world.

I reckon he did NZ a favour by declaring himself available for the World Cup.

 

[One Warrior]

I think he is, Sonny doesn't need league, but league certainly needs him.

He has been immortalised by the media (mainly through vilification) and is probably one of the biggest names in sport in this part of the world.

I reckon he did NZ a favour by declaring himself available for the World Cup.

Think you're right Ozbash, NZRL jumping to his & Khoder's wishes, though I do believe this was more Khoder than Sonny. Just watch the Aussies will make us favourites now and make out that they are underdogs.

 

[Dav0c]

"Sonny Bill Williams"
About 16,700,000 results (0.16 seconds)

"Rugby League"
About 19,400,000 results (0.19 seconds)

Almost. ;-)

 

[byrner]

You are favourites. Defending champs and SBW in the team, we might as well not show up.

 

[ozbash]

"Sonny Bill Williams"
About 16,700,000 results (0.16 seconds)

"Rugby League"
About 19,400,000 results (0.19 seconds)

Almost. ;-)

RL 3 mil ahead because of the interest generated by the SBW saga ?

 

[MKEB...]

Earlier in the year I said I would not have him in my kiwis world cup team.
Now you would be foolish to leave him out...a damn good season put paid to that.

I am unhappy with Harris being dropped after being named only a day earlier, that friggen sucks

Khoder knows how to play the game, and him and sonny are winning.

I disagree that he is bigger than the sport... Him and the Slaters, Inglis's and Burgesses are what make the sport.

I still hate what he did to the dogs and that will always sit bad with me. I do want to see us win the world cup though.

End result; Suspend Ryles for 6 weeks.

 

[ozbash]

I am unhappy with Harris being dropped after being named only a day earlier, that friggen sucks

yea, that's harsh alright but I think he will be recalled through injury. I would say that Tohu was always there to drop off if SBW changed his mind..

 

[Fast Eddie]

Earlier in the year I said I would not have him in my kiwis world cup team.

.....why'd you say that? From memory it took about two games into the season to show that he was still all class in League

 

[Micistm]

Is he bigger than the sport? Quite possibly, sadly. Bigger than both rugby codes and boxing...all are prepared to sell their souls and pander to an undeniably good player but IMO could be possibly creating precedence they may regret- and I think it is fair to say that the Codes of sport themselves, combined with the media, created this monster.

However, I do not believe that League 'needs' him. It existed before him, it will exist after him. It got by without him in the code during his switches. Should he switch back next year NRL will continue fine without him. Even the Kiwis won a World Cup without him: Shock horror I know, but true ;-)

 

[league13]

Williams has no loyalty to League whatsoever and the change of heart fits in with his and Nasser's plans.When he said no to selection, that should have been it.Principals don't seem to matter in this game of ours.

 

[vinnie delpino]

Ofcourse he is. Ozbash hit it on the head League needs SBW more than SBW needs league. If he said he wanted to stay in league on the condition he could play origin and kiwis there would be a SBW clause written in the eligibility rules tomorrow. I'm not sure whether he's the best player in the game but he's definitely the most marketable player in the game, by far. How many kids u see with the SBW haircut? Heck I've watched Roosters games and cheered them on cos of Sonny previous to that I hated the chooks. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Funny what one man can do! yep he's bigger than the game

 

[Beavers Headgear]

League needs him ? :lol:

League didn't miss a beat when Meninga, Fittler, Johns, Lockyer etc retired and when SBW flies the coup again it will continue to go on with a new set of superstars

Rugby seemed to cope ok with the loss of Lomu, who was a global superstar, not just in this pocket of the world

 

[Fufu Andronez]

I think he is, Sonny doesn't need league, but league certainly needs him.

He has been immortalised by the media (mainly through vilification) and is probably one of the biggest names in sport in this part of the world.

I reckon he did NZ a favour by declaring himself available for the World Cup.

I disagree that the game needs him, we managed just fine before him, were fine when he left and we will be fine when he inevitably leaves again. Now that's not to say he isn't a wonderful talent because he's definitely a good'un.

 

[shiznit]

League needs him ? :lol:

League didn't miss a beat when Meninga, Fittler, Johns, Lockyer etc retired and when SBW flies the coup again it will continue to go on with a new set of superstars

Rugby seemed to cope ok with the loss of Lomu, who was a global superstar, not just in this pocket of the world

No... League needs him..

If he leaves again the NRL will stop while everyone waits for him to come back...

 

[Meth]

Personally, I think SBW is the consummate professional sportsman. Get with it- this 'disrespecting the jersey' crap belongs to a past era.

 

[ozbash]

Personally, I think SBW is the consummate professional sportsman. Get with it- this 'disrespecting the jersey' crap belongs to a past era.

Agree :shock:

I think the anti SBW brigade still think amateurism is sacred..

 

[Fast Eddie]

Personally, I think SBW is the consummate professional sportsman. Get with it- this 'disrespecting the jersey' crap belongs to a past era.

Plenty of truth in this. It's weird how people still hold onto all these ideals which still have a bit of a place in amateur sport and expect professional sportsmen to exhibit them in a completely different environment. More players would conduct their business like SBW (eg the short term deals, changing codes) if they had the ability to or were willing to take the risk. Best way to set himself up financially for life while achieving all sorts of career goals.

 

[ozbash]

http://www.therock.net.nz/Sonny-Bill-Williams-new-song/tabid/381/articleID/27442/Default.aspx

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Lol so on the Monday saying no and the Tuesday saying yes isn't amateurish at all ? Completely professional :lol:

Better let all the other players selected for the WC know they are living in past times by being able to make a decision and stick with it for more than 24hours :lol: Maybe SBW and Bruvva Mundine can set up mentoring sessions for the rest of the NRL players to teach them about modern day professionalism

 

[Fast Eddie]

Technically it was no on Monday morning, and then yes on Monday afternoon :lol:

Fact of the matter is the guy is good enough to pretty much to do what he wants or at the very least have control over it. His skills have given him that ability, just like in a lot of other professions. Clubs don't have to 'pander' to him if they don't want, but his ability on the field plus the money he brings in off it makes it very worthwhile to do so.