Williams hints at regret over move
10 Jul 2012
Sonny Bill Williams intimated that he would probably have stayed in rugby union with the Chiefs had he known he would adapt to the game as easily as he has.
Williams yesterday announced he would be moving to Japan with the Wild Knights at the end of the Super Rugby campaign and then on to league (thought to be with the Sydney Roosters) following that five-month stint in a deal which includes the opportunity to fight one boxing bout during that time, reportedly in South Africa..
He had agreed a return to league upon his departure to Toulon in 2008 and this move has honoured that agreement. However, the World Cup winning midfielder said he would return to the Chiefs ‘Even if there was no money here I’d come and play for free’ and continued by seemingly showing regret at the deal.
‘I didn’t think I would have loved it as much as I have back here. To be honest I kind of felt like I’d found my place at the Chiefs, with the boys, but it just goes back to [the fact] I’ve given someone my word, this was a while ago, and I’ve had to go on with it even though it was tough,’ he said.
Williams said that at the time he made the commitment to league he was not confident he could return to New Zealand and make a success of rugby.
‘I might not have been good enough and pressure was certainly on me, it wasn’t on anyone else. If it was about the money then I would have just stayed in France [with the Toulon rugby club] where I was getting pretty good coin.’
Williams is available to play in the first two Tests of the Rugby Championship but will not be selected as the selectors feel it makes more sense to go with a player who can establish himself.
75 Comments
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10 Jul 2012, 11:56 am
@willievz(willievz)-43:
Die ding modify wat ek tik…ok kom ek skryf dit so uit:
Eers tik jy .
Dan die woorde.
Dan tik jy na dit .
Soos dit.
10 Jul 2012, 11:57 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-51:
Ag nee man. Dit verwyder heeltyd wat ek tik.
willievz, hier is ‘n link, probeer dit: http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/html-code-for-bold
10 Jul 2012, 11:59 am
@willievz(willievz)-42: try this
before the word/s or sentence you want to embolden put and after it put …don’t include the – dashes though… and
10 Jul 2012, 12:00 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-53: what the f….!
10 Jul 2012, 12:01 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-29: Maybe I phrased that badly…what i meant was why does no one mind the others leaving for money and SBW gets called a villain for going to league, the sport he loves? I support him all the way – he’ll make twice the impact for NZ league as he could in rugby.
It’s a shame he’s missing out on the chance to create a legacy in rugby but he has the chance to do the same in league if he sticks with it and with one team.
10 Jul 2012, 12:09 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-54:
It’s like we’re being censored, Transie…
10 Jul 2012, 12:10 pm
What a crock of shi t. SBW is chasing the $, and nothing else matters.
10 Jul 2012, 12:11 pm
Fcken HTML geeks.
10 Jul 2012, 12:20 pm
@gonzo(gonzo)-55:
Sbw has nothing to prove in League, hes a phenom in the game. He left on bad terms but he hopes going back will erase some of that bad blood, which I am sure it will, perhaps not with the dogs fans though. Heres hoping he will return to union in the future and stake his legacy .
10 Jul 2012, 12:26 pm
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-59: I reckon after his league stint we will see him move full time into boxing. It’s a pity as the AB’s could have done with a SBW/Conrad Smith centre pairing
10 Jul 2012, 12:27 pm
@RefuGSpot(garth)-57: Well he did turn down a huge offer from Toulon to stay instead he took a big pay cut to play in NZ so he can’t be only about the money
10 Jul 2012, 12:28 pm
I, for one, would like to see him try his hand at MMA, modern dance and pottery before returning to union. And what’s the money like in Yoga these days?
10 Jul 2012, 12:33 pm
@Skeppie(Skeppie)-60:
He will be kidding himself if he thinks he will make it in the boxing game in terms of creating a legacy . His natural gifts are more centered around an oval ball.
10 Jul 2012, 12:37 pm
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-63: I agree but I still reckon he will try and make it after the league stint…
10 Jul 2012, 12:39 pm
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-59: I bet he felt sick the day NZ won the RL world cup without him. He wants a crack at it next year. Win, lose or draw, there won’t be much more for him after that. I agree – he’d be better to come back to NZ, work his way into the starting 15 and help us defend it in 2015.
@>^..^< katman(katman)-62: NZ hasn’t had a real pottery star for years. I’m just not sure if he’s up to it – those big clumsy fingers and tendency to shoulder charge opponents at the wrong moment
10 Jul 2012, 12:55 pm
@gonzo(gonzo)-65:
How did the kiwis pull that one off? To think if the Wallabies could tap into that talent Australia had on show that night they could be unbeatable, thank the almighty most Ozzies hate rugby.
10 Jul 2012, 13:33 pm
Hahaha , The Cape Crusaders lost their hero.
youtube.com/watch?v=F5OB0wtOSj0
10 Jul 2012, 13:41 pm
This text is bold
This text is big
This text is italic
This is subscript and superscript
10 Jul 2012, 13:44 pm
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-68:
Only bold and italic working.
10 Jul 2012, 15:59 pm
I can’t begrudge a man maximizing his earning potential. But I do think it’s a shame, he was becoming the best #12 in the world, and attracted people to union because he played the game in such a unique style.
All the guys he plays with seem to love him, his coaches regularly praise his professionalism and work ethic. Seems to me he gets a bad rap from a lot of people that isn’t totally justified.
10 Jul 2012, 18:59 pm
” but it just goes back to [the fact] I’ve given someone my word, this was a while ago, and I’ve had to go on with it even though it was tough,’ he said.”
I am confused. Did he promise to return as the best paid and the best paid only?
Otherwise, all those “hints” makes him look even more ridiculous, IMHO.
10 Jul 2012, 23:53 pm
haha, sunni “isnt interested in trhe money” yet he will be paid 1 million rand per game is japland.
****** suckers.
this oke is so well stage managed its frightening.
good luck to him, he is a tunc imo. shoulder charges and hollywood moments, fukkoff sunni, good riddance.
11 Jul 2012, 01:12 am
@fitz1ella(fitz1ella)-47:
Maybe you should stop sniffing your polyfilla Skopsuster…remember this?
Sources suggest today that prominent Bulldogs and New Zealand Rugby League forward, Sonny Bill Williams has walked out on the Bulldogs club and quit the NRL. Information is still coming to hand – but it’s believed Sonny Bill Williams has actually left the country for reasons unknown and is shortly about to link up with French Rugby Union club Toulon.
Williams apparently left Australia yesterday without letting team mates or officials at the Bulldogs know.
The star Rugby League forward has a contract with the Bulldogs in the NRL for another 4 season and the walk-out will surely see a legal battle erupt.
Bulldogs SEO Todd Greenberg said: “”I’ve had QC’s look at his contract and there is absolutely no get-out clause.”
”I’m shocked to hear of this situation with Sonny Bill Williams because I saw him Oatley at 7.30am today.’’
Yes, that is correct, he walked out on his team mates without even talking to them, mid week, mid season, mid contract! So trying to tell me it is all about a handshake is bullshit!
11 Jul 2012, 01:23 am
42% (the highest grouping) on last nights Reunion programme said that they did’nt give a toss about “Money Bill” leaving, so it appears that a fair whack of keewees agree with some of the sentiments above
11 Jul 2012, 07:17 am
Oh well.
He’s made his futon.
Now he must lie in it.
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