Super League: Sonny Bill Williams can’t make difference as Toronto Wolfpack lose opener to Castleford

If their opening match is any indication then Toronto Wolfpack will do well to avoid relegation from the Super League as the much-anticipated Sonny Bill Williams return to rugby league falls flat.

Toronto Wolfpack's New Zealand player Sonny Bill WIlliams (R) tackles Castleford's Tyla Hepi (L) during the English rugby league super league match between Castleford Tigers and Toronto Wolfpack at Emerald Headingley Stadium in Leeds, northern England on February 2, 2020. - Toronto's star signing Sonny Bill Williams, a former All Black who has made the switch from rugby union to league starts on the bench in Toronto's opening game. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

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Sonny Bill Williams’ eagerly-awaited return to rugby league proved to be something of an anti-climax as Toronto Wolfpack suffered a 28-10 defeat to Castleford in their first-ever Super League match at Headingley.

The former All Black ended his six-year absence from the 13-man code when he was introduced from the bench 26 minutes into his new club’s opening match of the season with them trailing 10-6 and was unable to reverse their fortunes.

It was a home game for Toronto, who are not due to stage fixtures in Canada until April, but it was the visitors who bossed the show, with new halves pairing Jake Trueman and Danny Richardson the architects of an impressive victory.

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Sonny Bill Williams charges into the Castleford defence.

Down to just 18 available players, with fullback Gareth O’Brien among the absentees from coach Brian McDermott’s 23-man squad, the Wolfpack could face a long and difficult battle to avoid an immediate return to the Championship on the evidence of their opening showing.

Yet they made a fine start with France international Hakim Miloudi threading a kick through the Castleford defence for winger Liam Kay to score the opening try after just three minutes.

The Wolfpack looked determined to play open rugby but it proved their undoing four minutes later when Miloudi was unable to take Josh McCrone’s pass and Tigers winger Greg Eden scooped up the loose ball to race 90 metres for an equalising score.

Richardson kicked the first of his four goals to put his side in front and they never looked back.

Prop Grant Millington crashed over from Richardson’s short pass and he would have had a second try but for a last-gasp interception by skipper McCrone.

Sonny Bill Williams didn’t get the win on his rugby league return.

It’s back to the drawing board for Sonny Bill and his coach Brian McDermott.

Trailing 10-4, it was time for Williams to make his eagerly-awaited appearance but he knocked on with his first touch and repeated the error shortly afterwards in a clumsy re-introduction into the sport.

Castleford loose forward Adam Milner touched down Jordan Rankin’s grubber kick for his side’s third try and skipper Michael Shenton added another before halftime, when the Yorkshiremen led 22-4.

A one-handed offload from Williams to Kay showed glimpses of what could be but the Wolfpack’s defence continued to look suspect and it cracked again to allow centre Peter Mata’utia in for Castleford’s fifth try after 45 minutes.

Miloudi raised Toronto’s spirits when he sprinted 65 metres for an interception try on the hour and prop Adam Sidlow had one disallowed by video referee Chris Kendall.

Williams stayed on the field to the end and will surely be better for the run as the Wolfpack turn their thoughts to their round-two fixture at Salford this weekend.

Originally published as Super League: Sonny Bill Williams can’t make difference as Toronto Wolfpack lose opener to Castleford