‘Put the money in the bank’
Maguire open to SBW return
If a two-year coaching gig worth $10 million came up in Toronto, Timbuktu or even Timaru, you get the feeling Wayne Bennett would be there.
The Great Britain Lions coach was asked for his thoughts on Sonny Bill Williams’ move to the Toronto Wolfpack at his side’s final training before taking on the Kiwis in Christchurch tonight.
At the same time, Williams was in the process of confirming the rich two-year deal that is reportedly worth $10 million.
‘‘He should be the happiest guy in the world,’’ Bennett said before dishing out some advice to the former All Blacks midfielder. ‘‘He should be putting that money in the bank straight away.’’
Bennett, who has coached against Williams in the NRL, can only see positives in the codehopper returning to the 13-man code.
‘‘I’m pleased for the game and I’m pleased for us that he’s going back to the game.
‘‘He’ll attract a lot of attention,’’ Bennett said.
The Wolfpack, who will join the English Super League for the first time in 2020 after two promotions in three seasons, are bankrolled by Australian mining entrepreneur David Argyle and were looking for a David Beckham- type player to do for them what the former Manchester United favourite did for LA Galaxy.
‘‘He’ll be great for Super League over there, he’ll create a lot of publicity,’’ Bennett said.
But the master coach did have a warning for Williams. When you’re on the big bucks you must deliver,
Kiwis coach Michael Maguire was coy on whether he wanted Sonny Bill Williams to return to international league with his New Zealand squad but admitted there was ‘‘an open opportunity’’ for the departing All Black after his latest code switch.
It meanswilliams should be free to return for the Kiwis after last appearing for them in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup final Australia won 34-2 in Manchester, but Samoa coach Matt Parish has declared his interest in luring the 34-year-old, who has a Samoan passport, into playing for his team.
Maguire did not reject the idea ofwilliams playing for the Kiwis again.
Bennett explained.
‘‘There’s only one of him though so there will be a lot of expectation on him but he’s lived with that all his life and I’m sure he’ll handle that.’’
Kiwis captain Benji Marshall said the return of Williams was great for the sport and he reiterated that his former Kiwis team-mate was deserving of any big contract that came his way.
‘‘He’s been a great role model for both codes, especially for young kids growing up in New Zealand who probably don’t feel like they have the opportunities everyone else gets. What he’s shown is with hard work and determination you can do whatever you want,’’ Marshall said.
‘‘You’ve got to give him full credit for not only what he’s done on the field but what he’s done off the field for the people of New Zealand as well.’’
‘‘Obviously I’ll talk to my senior players about whoever might be able to come in,’’ Maguire told One News. ‘‘You’ve got to look at what we’re building and when people are coming in, are they driving towards where we want to go? It’s definitely an open opportunity.’’
Coming back to international league with Samoa would be possible because of the game’s relaxed laws on eligibility, as seen with the Kiwis who defected to and have stuck with Tonga, who recorded their first test win over Australia last Saturday.
‘‘I know that although Sonny’s New Zealand-born he’s very proud of his Samoa heritage,’’ Parish told Nrl.com last week.
Great Britain hooker Josh Hodgson began his career in the Super League before moving to the Canberra Raiders in the NRL.
He echoed the thoughts of the Lions’ assistant coach Ian Watson who said that the arrival of Williams will transform Super League and bring fans of other sports to rugby league.
‘‘I think it’s a really smart signing to get someone like that to try and grow it and we all want the game to be as strong as possible whether that be internationally or at club level.
‘‘If we can get someone like Sonny Bill, not only for his rugby league talents but just for his image and what he brings to the game in terms of fans and people from other codes, it’s obviously going to spread the name of rugby league and spread the name of Toronto around the game a bit,’’ Hodgson said.