SBW likened to LeBron James
Toronto Wolfpack claim their website crashed after confirming the signing of Sonny Bill Williams on a two-year contract worth a reported NZ$10 million on Friday (NZ time).
The Canadian league outfit will next year play in the Super League for the first time after two promotions in three seasons since first playing professionally in the UK in 2017.
The Wolfpack are hoping to boost their profile exponentially and said in a statement that Williams ‘‘is rugby’s LeBron James’’, a global basketball superstar, while repeating the message about the departing All Black’s move being like the one former football star David Beckham made when joining LA Galaxy in the United States in 2007.
Toronto’s website was, however, working when Stuff accessed it after announcing that Williams had signed for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, so it could have been an attempt to raise the hype surrounding his deal that makes him the richest player in either rugby code.
The Wolfpack hope Williams will raise their profile as Super League attempts to tap into the gigantic sporting markets in North America, boosting the UK game’s finances with long-held financial issues still a concern, while growing the sport over there.
‘‘The excitement he will bring to the sport of rugby league in this country will be incredible,’’ Wolfpack CEO Bob Hunter said in a statement.
‘‘Having someone of his talent join the Wolfpack will greatly raise the profile of the club, and also help move the game forward globally.
‘‘ Sonny is a phenomenal athlete and we believe he is rugby’s LeBron James and his addition to our league is comparable to when David Beckham joined LA Galaxy.’’
It was Toronto coach Brian McDermott who first suggested publicly that Williams’ move would be like Beckham’s transfer from Real Madrid to LA Galaxy. McDermott met with Williams during the World Cup in Japan.
‘‘We have signed one of the highest profile rugby players, if not sports stars in the world and he will enhance the world of rugby in Toronto and certainly push the brand of the Wolfpack onto another level,’’ McDermott said in a statement.
‘‘The main point of excitement for our club is that we are signing a great rugby league player who has the hunger to be successful in Super
League much as he was in the NRL and rugby union.’’
English rugby stars Manu Tuilagi and Ben Te’o are also reportedly on Toronto’s radar.
Williams’ contract will give him a share of the club and a starring role in a Netflix series which the Wolfpack hope will run over three seasons.
He will reportedly earn £2.6 million a year (NZ$5.25m) and his annual salary will exceed the £2.1m
(NZ$4.24m) salary cap Super League clubs must comply with, but it’s perfectly legitimate because of the competition’s marquee ruling.
It was first introduced in 2015 and clubs in 2020 are allowed to count just the first £150,000
(NZ$302,850) of two nominated players’ wages towards their salary cap.
Williams played his 58th and final test for the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup bronze final against Wales last Friday.
He signed off with a 40-17 win over Wales that was also potentially his last game of rugby ahead of his return to league, five years after last appearing for Sydney Roosters in the NRL.