Sbw 1 - nrl 0

[ozbash]

Speculation that Sonny Bill Williams is poised for a return to the NRL has increased after the All Blacks star was spotted yesterday with Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis at a harbourside cafe.
Also present were Channel Nine boss David Gyngell and Williams's manager Khoder Nasser.
Williams, who is in Sydney to prepare for his February 8 New Zealand heavyweight title bout against Richard Tutaki, has been linked with a move to the Roosters for some time.
A clause in his deed of release from the Bulldogs, prohibiting him from playing with a rival NRL club, expires this year. Williams is also off-contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union at the end of the season after recently re-signing for 12 months.
The 26-year-old told The Sun-Herald just before Christmas that he wasn't thinking that far ahead, but his meeting with Politis and Gyngell suggests there is a possibility he could be playing for the Roosters in 2013.

Into them , bro. Our local radio station quoted a 5 year deal @ $1 mil a year !!

Shame its not the Warriors but great news to start the year. The game needs SBW's.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/6205976/Sonny-Bill-meets-leagues-heavy-hitters

 

[Dr Crane]

and an unsurprising cunch to the punt for the new zealand public.

 

[Warmess]

The writing was on the wall when he signed a 1 year deal with the Cheifs. I've had a long standing bet with a work mate who's a Union nutter that SBW would be back in the NRL in 2013. Should have put some money on it :[

Over in the NRL forum they're saying 800k a year, which sounds about right if this new TV deal goes through.

I hope he does come back. He's a great player, and the money is there, so I can't see him running out again.

 

[The European Polynesian]

SBW: World cup winner in both codes

 

[Fast Eddie]

Awesome news, guy was born to play League. Not only that it will ge good to see him running round for the Kiwis as well.

 

[devoid]

If true, it would be great fun to check out the Dogs v Roosters in 2013 -- Dogs should take it back to Belmore just for the added hostile atmosphere.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Still hate the Roosters


WC 13 looking awesum now but hell probably get hurt

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Hopefully never see the Kiwis jersey again

Give me a bloke with a bit of ticker and commitment like Lewis Brown any day of the week

Stoked he will be out of NZ, not too far away at the moment though but at least a step in the right direction

 

[playdaball]

He could probably play SOO for NSW?

 

[devoid]

He could probably play SOO for NSW?

Who pays more? :sarcasm:

 

[ozbash]

Who pays more? :sarcasm:

:lol: now, now.

He probably would like two World Cups at the same time though.

 

[Warmess]

Depends if Nasser tells him he wants two World Cups at the same time.

 

[Warrior@Heart]

As much as I question his character I do like watching him play, stoked to see him return to the NRL.

 

[devoid]

Yeah, I loved what he brought to the footy field -- I still can't believe his walkout from 2008, though. A seriously crap decision.

 

[Rich102]

My problem with all this is that he walked out on his Bulldogs contract, which he had signed not too long before, because he wanted more money.
Left the club in a hard place. Left his teammates in a hard place.
Now he wants to go back to the NRL. Why? For more money.

Call me old fashioned but for me if you sign a contract you stick by it - unless you negotiate with the club concerned for a release.

In my experiance League people are fiercely loyal. Nobody is above the game. Just because he has been away from the NRL for a period doesn't make it right.

To me he is an outcast and I won't mind if I never see him play again.

 

[Warrior@Heart]

I'd rather see him in the NRL because like Folau & Hunt when they switched to AFL alot of people such as myself who had never watched AFL checked it out to see what Karmichael was like as a footy player, the media frenzy will bring alot of attention to the NRL and reignite the rivalry between the Dogs and Roosters. The Dogs will be out for blood when SBW finally runs out against them at ANZ and that type of passion and publicity can only be good for the game.

 

[hitman82]

I think Dolla Bro is a total lowlife, but it'd be good for the NRL to have him back.

And it'd be cool to see him come up against the superior athletes rugby league develops and hopefully get his ass handed to him a fair bit.

 

[Fast Eddie]

I don't think that would happen. They guy will probably spend a lot of time on the sidelines injured but will still carve up, even more than when he was last in the game.

 

[hitman82]

I don't think that would happen. They guy will probably spend a lot of time on the sidelines injured but will still carve up, even more than when he was last in the game.

Oh yeah of course he will still be awesome - wasn't arguing against that. I just want some big guys to smash him haha. He doesn't get smashed enough in union.

 

[Fast Eddie]

One of those guys who will/is very hard to smash because of his footwork. Doesn't run straight into a defensive line but has footwork before it so gonna be pretty hard to put a good shot on him. One of those reasons that for a prop Pricey hardly ever got any massive shoulder charges or hits put on him.