SBW right to tread cautiously
SBW has become SSBW – Sensible Sonny Bill Williams – in the twilight of a glittering sporting career. The 58-test All Black was lobbed a juicy curveball at a Toronto Wolfpack media day in Manchester yesterday but he swatted it away with diplomatic aplomb.
As soon as Prince Harry presided over the 2021 Rugby League World Cup draw at London’s Buckingham Palace last week, focus turned to SBW’s international allegiance.
League luminaries such as former Great Britain star Kevin Sinfield speculated that Williams would add stardust to the World Cup tournament.
‘‘Will he play for New Zealand or Samoa?,’’ punters soon posited.
Williams, however, has taken a more mature attitude to talk of a test comeback.
The Aucklander is returning to rugby league after last playing for the Sydney Roosters in 2014.
As he told the Manchester media gathering: ‘‘I haven’t proved myself at Super League level. Being out of the game for five years, for me to start thinking about playing for New
Zealand or playing for Samoa is just ridiculous.’’
Rugby league is in Williams’ DNA and it would be fair to say it’s the double NRL title winner’s first sporting love.
But he’s now 34 years old and this will be his 17th season of professional rugby across two codes.
His last test match came six years ago, when he was one of the few Kiwis to fire a shot in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup final drubbing from the Australian Kangaroos.
Williams is smart enough to know it will take him time to transition from a rugby union midfield back to a rugby league second rower.
Some of his skills will be transferable – most notably his trademark audacious offloads. He will still bring an ability to smash people in the tackle, but will need to readjust to the demands of a rugby league defender operating on the edge, working in tandem with his centre.
As he said in Manchester, his first job is ‘‘to see if I can still play the 13-man game’’.
Williams’ cautious approach is appropriate. As much as rugby league in Toronto and, Super League in general, are looking to latch onto the human headline’s profile-raising potential, Williams is a humble figure these days.
He would know it’s far too early to start talking himself up, and also potentially disrespectful to incumbent internationals.
The Kiwis aren’t short of handy second row and loose forward talent with Tohu Harris, Joseph Tapine, Kenneath Bromwich and James FisherHarris among those vying for roles in that department.
Toa Samoa coach Matt Parish is dead keen to recruit Williams, but the Wolfpack veteran will still need time to feel confident enough to put his hand up to play alongside Samoa’s Canberra enforcer Josh Papali’i.
With most top test players around world drawn from the NRL ranks, Williams would know sound Super League form isn’t necessarily a springboard to test rugby league success.
Toronto head coach Brian McDermott is making all the right noises in saying he doesn’t want to rush Williams into the fray too early. McDermott wants his $10 million recruit firing at the back end of the Super League season.
By Challenge Cup final time – July 17 – Williams should know in his bones if his body is up to the rigours of test football.
And, don’t forget he will be 36 when the next World Cup kicks off. Even one of the most remarkable rugby talents has to grapple with the unrelenting opponent called Father Time.
Williams could, however, shoot a glance at ex-All Blacks team-mate Dan Carter, still starring in Japan’s Top League at 38 – the same age as Japan’s Kiwi lock Luke Thompson at last year’s Rugby World Cup. Evergreen ex-All Blacks backrower Jerome Kaino – two years older than Williams – is still leading French champions Toulouse.
Nothing seems beyond Sonny Bill Williams once he sets his mind to his latest mission.
The Kiwis’ youngest debutant, at 19 in 2004, could have gone on to usurp Mark Graham as the greatest Kiwi of all time had he stayed with his boyhood code.
But he challenged himself with a controversial move to rugby union and cannot have any regrets.
Two Rugby World Cup wins with the All Blacks have led to a higher global profile and a lucrative end to his career with the Wolfpack.
His comments about his test future show he’s a much more reflective person than the young man who walked out on his contract at the Bulldogs to pursue his rugby goals.