NRL 2020: Injury crisis may force Roosters into unleashing Sonny Bill Williams sooner than they had hoped
It stands to reason the Roosters signed Sonny Bill Williams as much for his presence and the professionalism he can inspire off the field as they did for what he can bring on it. But that luxury has vanished.
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The injuries continue to mount for the Roosters but the cavalry is arriving with Sonny Bill Willimas hitting the club’s facilities for the first time on Friday.
Williams was released from quarantine on Thursday and passed a biosecurity check, which clears him to train with his new teammates — now the work begins to get the cross-code superstar ready to return to the NRL after six years away from the sport.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson had pencilled in the Round 17 clash with the Raiders as the date of Williams’ return — giving the club three weeks to get the 35-year old up to speed — but the two-time defending premiers shocking injury toll could force his hand.
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The Tricolours are currently without 11 top-line players, including backrowers Boyd Cordner and Angus Crichton. Since his swansong in rugby in November last year, Williams has only played five games of league for Toronto Wolfpack — the last of which came in March.
When the Roosters confirmed Williams’ signature several weeks ago, Robinson said he would never doubt Williams ability to do the extraordinary but surely he would not have anticipated being forced into such a situation.
At 35, Williams is in the twilight of his career and for all his talent and pedigree there was a fair bit of rust on show in his cameo for the Wolfpack.
It stands to reason the Roosters signed Williams as much for his presence and the professionalism he can inspire off the field as they did for what he can bring once he pulls on a jersey.
But that luxury has vanished as the injuries piled up for the Roosters, who lost Luke Keary (ribs), Lachlan Lam (ankle) and Mitchell Aubusson (wrist) on in Thursday nights loss to the Storm.
Keary was taken to hospital on Thursday night before being released on Friday morning. He’s expected to miss 3-5 matches.
The Roosters already have Brett Morris (back), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (calf), Daniel Tupou (ankle), Victor Radley (knee), Sam Verrills (knee), Billy Smith (knee, Cordner (concussion) and Crichton (knee) on the sidelines.
At this point, just fielding a team against the Tigers will be something of a victory.
Robinson might have wanted Williams as a bit-part player who provided as much inspiration as he did perspiration, but now he might not have a choice.
The questions are myriad. Will Robinson rush Williams into his team for next week? If he does, will he start him? If he doesn’t, when will he pull the trigger?
The SBW Show doesn’t need any help when it comes to generating publicity, but if the Roosters hopes of winning three straight titles rest on the returning star, even if it’s just for a week or two, it’ll only add to the legend.
‘Don’t get excited’: Crisis won’t fast-track SBW return
Tradies on a building site across the street, who had been whispering for a good half-hour that something was clearly going on, started yelling “SONNY! OI, SONNY!” once they saw him.
The scenes of the waiting press pack rushing the Toyota Kluger was more akin to a rock star or a Hollywood idol — because Sonny Bill Williams, once of the Bulldogs and Crusaders and All Blacks and Wolfpack and now again a Rooster, is back, he is here, and as close to either as you’ll get in the NRL.
The dual international superstar exited quarantine on Thursday afternoon, and the SBW frenzy is rapidly approaching fever pitch.
But don’t get too ahead of yourself.
Despite an injury list from hell and the concern that a top four spot is no longer secure, Trent Robinson squashed any suggestion he may send an SOS for his veteran star to play against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval next Saturday night.
The Roosters coach said Williams would need at least three weeks to acclimatise to training, playing style and teammates.
Williams would clearly be underdone but could be used sparingly off the bench, adding much needed class, confidence and power.
Asked would he rush SBW back, Robinson: “No, not at all. No one get excited about next week.”
After two weeks at the Meriton on Pitt Street, Williams had few words for the waiting press pack, but he didn’t need many — sitting behind the wheel of a white Toyota Kuger with his family in tow, the impact of his presence said it all.
Close to a dozen photographers crowded around, trying to get a shot of the cross-code phenom, as he left isolation, bound for Redfern for a biosecurity check.
The Smiles of freedom. Two week Quarantine ✅ #AlwaysAlhamdullilah pic.twitter.com/XNDcYR82YA
— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) August 13, 2020
Williams has been on lockdown for the past 14 days with his wife Alana and children Iman (6), Aisha (4), Zaid (2) and Essa (5 months).
“We’re doing good. We’re very happy,” Williams said.
“I’ll start training when we get the test back.
“It’s good to get out and get some fresh air.”
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Williams will not attend Thursday night’s clash between the Roosters and Storm — he said he was not permitted due to the NRL’s strict biosecurity laws — and will instead settle in at home with his family.
His NRL return is pencilled as Round 17’s grand final rematch with the Raiders, and he’s expected to start training with the Tricolours as soon as he’s cleared.
Not since Jarryd Hayne’s return from the NFL in 2016 has the NRL had a player with such star power — league’s prodigal sons might head to other codes in other lands but they almost always come home in the end, and for whatever reason the sport is enchanted with those who leave and come back.
Sure, there’s plenty of young bucks who have risen up since Williams left at the end of 2014, but even now, at 35 and with likely only half a dozen games in him this year, nobody can draw a crowd like him.
All the young bloods, like Kalyn Ponga, Nathan Cleary, David Fifita and even Latrell Mitchell — for a while at least, they’ll all be playing for second when it comes to getting the spotlight.
It’s always been this way for Williams, ever since his debut as a Bulldog back in 2004, and his colourful and high-profile career across two codes, four countries and three continents has only built his stardom, and his legend.
He’s at the back end of his career now, and he’s only played a handful of matches in the last 12 months. The Roosters have signed him as much for his off-field presence as what he can provide with Steeden in hand. He might not be the strength that once seemed to move heaven and earth.
But everyone will still be watching. They’ll be watching that first training session when he runs out in red, white and blue. They’ll be watching every Tuesday to see if this is the week he gets named by Trent Robinson.
They’ll be watching when the match begins against the Raiders and he sits impatiently on the bench, waiting for the moment he hits the field, and only then will we see if all the old things can still happen again.
Maybe time will beat him, as it does everybody in the end. But maybe it wont’.
After all, this is Sonny Bill Williams we’re talking about here. It doesn’t matter how long he’s been away, he’s still unique - that means there’s nobody else like him.
Originally published as NRL 2020: Injury crisis may force Roosters into unleashing Sonny Bill Williams sooner than they had hoped