Code-cracker: who

It may not have endeared him to the traditionalists, who prefer their sporting greats stay in one place, but Sonny Bill Williams was never one to stand still.

After signing a record deal with the Toronto Wolfpack, Williams is set to suit up for a 10th professional team – a figure that jumps to 13 if national sides are included.

Such a large amount is usually associated with journeymen which, regardless of where you sit on the ‘SBW’ divide, is a tag the 34-year-old could never be labelled with.

Wherever he ended up, Williams was saddled with the expectation of being one of the best – if not the best – on the field and that success would soon follow.

Which begs the question: apart from his brief NPC stints with Canterbury and Countiesmanukau (where he only made a handful of appearances), which team got the most out of their time with the cross-code superstar?

It wasn’t just what Williams produced on the field that made him so valuable to the Roosters., although that alone would be enough to have his 45-game stay near the top end of this list. In two seasons at the Sydney glamour club, Williams led them to grand final glory in 2013 and a minor premiership the following year, all while drawing record crowds and TV audiences.

After five years out of the code, it was the most seamless of returns; enough to see him named in the NRL’S team of the decade while the impact of his time in Bondi is still being felt today.

Williams has been widely credited for playing a major part in establishing a culture of professionalism that has created an NRL juggernaut, with the Roosters becoming the first team in 26 years to win back-to back titles last season. No wonder they were keen to bring him back in a coaching capacity.

Dave Rennie and Wayne Smith’s system, leading the competition in offloads, tackle busts and linebreaks.

Had he not felt compelled to honour a handshake deal with Roosters boss Nick Politis to go back to the NRL, he probably would have been there for much longer.

Williams returned in 2015 and enjoyed a solid campaign, with the Chiefs losing to eventual champions the Highlanders in the qualifying finals.

Doggies fans may scoff at this given his controversial exit from the club. In fairness, ‘controversial’ is putting it lightly. We all know the story, with Williams enraging the rugby league community when he walked out on the Bulldogs just 18 months into a five-year contract. Some fans may never get over it, but that doesn’t diminish everything he achieved with the club up until that point.

The Bulldogs got good value when he exploded onto the scene as a rookie in 2004. Williams would have been on a minimal contract as he established himself as a regular in the premiership-winning side. He went on to sign two more contracts with the Bulldogs, spurning several rival offers in the process, becoming one of the biggest stars in the game.

The relationship, of course, went pear-shaped but it should be noted that the dispute was resolved only when the Bulldogs received a A$750,000 transfer fee.

Evaluating Williams’ time in the All Blacks jersey is complicated. At face value, he enjoyed a tremendous international rugby career: 58 tests with a winning percentage of 91 per cent and two World Cup trophies.

Williams could change a game with his peerless offloading ability while defensively he was a rock in midfield with an underrated knack for creating turnovers.

It’s hard to escape the fact that most of his World Cup appearances came off the bench. He never quite managed to break up the preferred midfield combination of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith in 2011 and 2015. Williams was given just a fiveminute cameo in the 2011 final, although there was no denying his impact as a super-sub four years later.

Then there’s the infamous red card against the British and

Irish Lions to consider, while many felt that he was lucky to make the recent global