Sonny Bill Williams struggle as Sydney Roosters beat Canberra Raiders 18-6 | Match Report
The spotlight was on Sonny Bill Williams ahead of his NRL return and while he was only on the field for 14 minutes, the says Rooster he’s loving being back. But it was James Tedesco who stole the show. MATCH REPORT + FULL ANALYSIS.
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Off came the dark blue hood and there he was.
Some 2172 days, or five years and 11 months after his last appearance in the NRL, Sonny Bill Williams returned to a place where few 35-year-olds wish to spend their Saturday night.
Even if it was for only 14 minutes.
And we’re not talking about how long it takes to get off the end of line at Mooseheads.
In the cold of Canberra, colliding with 115kg men much younger, on the fifth day of September, is where the chapter inside Williams’ storybook career will have its own chapter.
The comeback pages will begin with the build-up and the hype — because truth be told, the actual performance was far from headline grabbing, but let’s remember it was also his first game since playing for the Toronto Wolfpack last March.
And he was also asked to play as a middle forward when he came on to replace Lindsay Collins.
The stats read; Five tackles, four runs for 23 metres and one offload.
“The bus ride for the old 35-year-old joints wasn’t too good, but besides that, I loved being back out there,’’ Williams told Fox League.
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“It was fast — but I expected that, I’ve never played in the middle in my whole career so it was nice to get out there and taste the blood in the chest.
“It’s special to be back playing with the lads that I have really admired from afar.
“It’s a pleasure to be playing alongside these guys, their legends of the future.
‘There’s a lot of talk about me coming back in and seeing what I can add, but for me its seeing what I can learn from these guys and learning how I can play off Teddy (James Tedesco) because guys like him, they’re just special individuals,
“I’m really looking forward to the next few weeks.’’
Of course, it’s rugby league so plenty wished SBW had never come back at all.
They were outnumbered.
Because check this.
According to data analysts Gentia, SBW has generated $32 million in brand exposure for the NRL since July 20 — when it was first announced he was on his way back to Bondi.
Even the haters, the jealous and the sceptics can’t deny what that means for rugby league.
Be it by print, broadcast or radio, the NRL have lapped up 17,000 mentions of Williams’ comeback for the Chooks.
It might not be for your Tigers, Dragons, Bulldogs or Sharks, but if rugby league is leading news bulletins because of a dual-international that wants to wear a jersey with an NRL logo, it’s not just a win for the Tricolours.
The 35-year-old with the aura that, according to Roosters captain Boyd Cordner, only Mal Meninga and his coach Trent Robinson have to hold an entire room, jogged back into the best competition in the world with 21-minutes remaining in last night’s grand final replay.
He jogged back off with eight minutes remaining.
It may have been part of the plan, but it was short-lived.
It was without a massive fend, monster hit or try-assist offload.
But did it matter to the Chooks who got the chocolates? No.
And it did it matter to SBW, who now focuses on playing next Saturday against Newcastle?
“Obviously I’m still learning the ropes, but I just had to get out there and play and get that ball rolling,’’ Williams said.
TEDDY STEALS THE SHOW IN GRAND FINAL REMATCH
Forget Sonny Bill Williams - James Tedesco is rugby league’s greatest show.
In another NRL masterclass that overshadowed the return of a dual code great, the flying fullback scored first and last to keep the Roosters three-peat dream alive.
Tedesco scored two tries, broke 13 tackles and ran 198 meters to crush the Raiders and remind the world of just who is rugby league’s No.1.
“He was very strong,” said Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
“He made a decision to take on the game. He did that from an early stage and obviously did really well. He gave us plenty of energy and guys play off that.”
On a night that was supposed to be all about the return of Sonny Bill, Tedesco proved himself to be the real star by delivering the Roosters an 18-6 win over the Raiders in the return grand final re-match.
Williams played just 14 minutes as the Raiders final’s hopes were delivered a battering with Josh Papalli injured during the heavyweight clash.
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INJURY CRISIS
Ricky Stuart warned of writing the Raiders off after Papalii was injured in the loss that could cost Canberra a top-four spot.
In the latest blow for the injury stricken club, Papalii could be out for the season after suffering a shoulder injury during the first half.
Down by just four points following a torrid first forty, the Raiders failed to run down the Roosters after the game’s most dominate prop failed to return.
“If Josh is out we will find someone to fill the jumper,” Stuart said.
“Everyone wrote us off seven or eight weeks ago but they didn’t understand what we have here. They didn’t give us an opportunity to show them the mentality of this playing group.”
Papalii suffered a suspected AC injury and will join Josh Hodgson on a long list of Canberra casualties.
“I am concerned,” Stuart said.
“We will find out how serious it is but for Josh not to come back on is obviously a worry. He was feeling it. I have to credit the boys because they keep on turning up every week. I am just disappointed with the way we played in the second half. It just wasn’t us.”
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THE RETURN
Roosters coach Robinson has revealed his plan to play Sonny Bill Williams as a battering ram after declaring his 14 minute NRL return a success.
Once the world’s best edge forward, Williams spent his stint against the Raiders playing in the middle as a prop.
With the game still up for grabs at 12-6 when he was put on, Williams was taken from the field after Tedesco scored the match winner.
“We got him out there and got him uncomfortable,” Robinson said.
“Everything went to plan and I think he went well. He has played back-row his whole career so it is a new role in the middle but that is what the team needed. He will improve on that each week. There are other ways to use him on the edge but we will keep on pushing for what works best for the team.”
THE MAN OF STEEL
In a milestone that was overshadowed by Williams’ return, Josh Morris became just the 41st player to join the NRL 300 club.
Making his debut as the baby faced boy of Steve ‘Slippery’ Morris for St George Illawarra in 2007, Morris was last night a battle hardened hero with a bloodied nose following a first half that didn’t entirely go his way.
Destined to be remembered as one of the game’s best centres, Morris failed to win a captain’s challenge after dropping the ball and was left with blood all over his face following a heavy clash.
HE’S BACK!
—David Riccio
Off came the dark blue hood and there he was.
Some 2172 days, or five years and 11 months after his last appearance in the NRL, Sonny Bill Williams returned to a place where few 35-year-olds wish to spend their Saturday night.
Even if it was for only 14 minutes.
And we’re not talking about how long it takes to get off the end of line at Mooseheads.
In the cold of Canberra, colliding with 115kg men much younger, on the fifth day of September, is where the chapter inside Williams’ storybook career will have its own chapter.
The comeback pages will begin with the build-up and the hype — because truth be told, the actual performance was far from headline grabbing, but let’s remember it was also his first game since playing for the Toronto Wolfpack last March.
And he was also asked to play as a middle forward when he came on to replace Lindsay Collins.
The stats read; Five tackles, four runs for 23 metres and one offload.
“The bus ride for the old 35-year-old joints wasn’t too good, but besides that, I loved being back out there,’’ Williams told Fox League.
“It was fast — but I expected that, I’ve never played in the middle in my whole career so it was nice to get out there and taste the blood in the chest.
“It’s special to be back playing with the lads that I have really admired from afar.
“It’s a pleasure to be playing alongside these guys, their legends of the future.
‘There’s a lot of talk about me coming back in and seeing what I can add, but for me its seeing what I can learn from these guys and learning how I can play off Teddy (James Tedesco) because guys like him, they’re just special individuals,
“I’m really looking forward to the next few weeks.’’
Of course, it’s rugby league so plenty wished SBW had never come back at all.
They were outnumbered.
Because check this.
According to data analysts Gentia, SBW has generated $32 million in brand exposure for the NRL since July 20 — when it was first announced he was on his way back to Bondi.
Even the haters, the jealous and the sceptics can’t deny what that means for rugby league.
Be it by print, broadcast or radio, the NRL have lapped up 17,000 mentions of Williams’ comeback for the Chooks.
It might not be for your Tigers, Dragons, Bulldogs or Sharks, but if rugby league is leading news bulletins because of a dual-international that wants to wear a jersey with an NRL logo, it’s not just a win for the Tricolours.
The 35-year-old with the aura that, according to Roosters captain Boyd Cordner, only Mal Meninga and his coach Trent Robinson have to hold an entire room, jogged back into the best competition in the world with 21-minutes remaining in last night’s grand final replay.
He jogged back off with eight minutes remaining.
It may have been part of the plan, but it was short-lived.
It was without a massive fend, monster hit or try-assist offload.
But did it matter to the Chooks who got the chocolates? No.
And it did it matter to SBW, who now focuses on playing next Saturday against Newcastle?
“Obviously I’m still learning the ropes, but I just had to get out there and play and get that ball rolling,’’ Williams said.
Originally published as Sonny Bill Williams struggle as Sydney Roosters beat Canberra Raiders 18-6 | Match Report