THROWING their hat into the ring for Sonny Bill Williams proves the Eels' management is at least thinking clearly - he would turn the struggling club around. This column reported on a meeting that SBW and Stephen Kearney had in November. Kearney and SBW have a very strong relationship - the Eels coach maintained contact and interest in SBW when plenty of others wanted to hammer him. When SBW makes his decision it won't be based on dollars, despite plenty of his critics saying he just chases the dollar. The opposite is the truth - he is about challenging himself as a sportsman and doing what others say he can't do. Of course, reward comes into that. The real reason he left the Bulldogs may never come out - but it was not motivated by finance. SBW has always held Roosters boss Nick Politis in the highest regard and I think his loyalty and friendship may outweigh the relationship he has with Kearney. SBW won't go to the top bidder, but he will want to play rugby in the lead-up to his NRL return and he will want to box, and the Roosters are said to be comfortable with that. It also means he won't eat up as much of their salary cap.
