Let’s get this SBW rooster to Warriors
Club boss: ‘He would be the greatest morale booster’
New Zealand Warriors chief executive Cameron George has confirmed the club is interested in signing Sonny Bill Williams to a short-term NRL deal and that they have made contact with Williams’ agent around his availability.
Williams is a free agent for the remainder of the 2020 campaign after the Toronto Wolfpack withdrew from the English Super League season due to financial hardship brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Several clubs have been linked to the two-time NRL Premiership winner.
Although the back-to-back premiers the Sydney Roosters have emerged as a frontrunner to bring Williams back to the NRL, George confirmed the club was interested in integrating him into the squad in Terrigal.
“We have spoken to his manager, absolutely,” George said. “He was going to speak to Sonny last night and let us know. He wasn’t going to muck us around.”
Williams won a premiership with the Roosters in 2013 but hasn’t played in the NRL since the 2014 season, where he was a staple of the Tricolours pack in a season that ultimately ended in the preliminary finals against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
During the 2014 campaign, Williams made a big dent for the Roosters, averaging 24 tackles and 114 running metres per game.
Spending the past five years playing rugby, Williams returned to the 13-man game with the Wolfpack this year but was not posting remarkable numbers.
Now halfway through the season, the Warriors sit just two wins outside the NRL top eight and are an outside chance of making a play for the post-season if they can start to string some wins together — a prospect made less likely by the departures of David Fusitu’a, Ken Maumalo, Agnatius Paasi and King Vuniyayawa after tomorrow’s game in Gosford against the Roosters.
While the Warriors believe Williams would make an impact on the field, George said his off-field presence would make him more valuable.
“I think when I look at the opportunity with Sonny, and let’s not forget you’ve got stars that have to align for that to happen, is where our group is at the moment, he’d be the greatest morale booster.
“Imagine him hanging out with our young players during this period, leading them through it, helping the guys on and off the ground. I think it would be a fantastic opportunity for the playing group and coaching staff to work alongside an athlete of
,, Imagine him hanging out with our young players during this period, leading them through it, helping the guys on and off the ground.
Warriors CEO Cameron George
his stature. I think he’d add value on the field for a short period of time.
“I feel like if he wanted to come and join us it would be great for our group that are over in Australia.”
George confirmed the club was also interested in Wolfpack centre Ricky Leutele, who played 129 NRL games for the Cronulla Sharks between 2010 and 2018.