NRL 2020: Why Sonny Bill Williams won’t be a Bulldog next year
It’s being sold as the prodigal son returning to the promised land for one last run around in the blue and white – but Sonny Bill Williams won’t be playing for the Bulldogs in 2021, and it all goes back to a meeting in 2008.
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It was the high-powered dinner at Brighton which many Bulldogs fans haven’t forgotten – nor forgiven Sonny Bill Williams.
Canterbury management called an emergency dinner at Le Sands Restaurant in July, 2008 to discuss increasing speculation that star player Williams was ready to walk out on the club – with four years remaining on his contract – for French rugby.
Inside the restaurant that night were then Canterbury Leagues chief executive John Ballesty, football club chairman George Peponis, Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg, Williams’ friend and former player Solomon Haumono, Williams manager and adviser Khoder Nasser, Bulldogs powerbroker Arthur Coorey, and Williams’ confidant Anthony Mundine.
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Those aligned to Williams – according to others at the dinner – assured Canterbury hierarchy that Williams wouldn’t quit.
He left less than a week later.
While some at Belmore have forgiven Williams’ behaviour 12 years ago, others still with influence at the club haven’t.
Greenberg remembered the meeting when contacted by News Corp, but he preferred not to comment. Peponis did not return calls.
And Canterbury fans with long memories also haven’t forgotten the Bulldogs 80th season anniversary gala dinner at Le Montage, Lilyfield, where Williams was invited to celebrate his entry into Canterbury’s team of the decade.
The Bulldogs even invited Roosters chairman, Nick Politis, hoping it just may sway Williams to attend. The tactic failed. Williams declined the invite.
Williams continues to be linked with the Bulldogs for next season, a seemingly romantic and nostalgic end to the career of one of rugby league’s finest.
Another possible hurdle at Canterbury would be the club’s new sponsor, the Laundy family, are major poker machine proprietors.
While Stu Laundy has expressed an interest, Williams is anti-gambling and will refuse to wear a Roosters jumper with sponsor, Unibet, splashed across on the back.
The space will be by taken by a charity.
Despite having another year to run on his contract with Toronto, Williams has become a free agent after the Canadian franchise withdrew from this year’s Super League competition and then had their participation agreement terminated.
While he has heard and read talk linking his club to Williams, Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill doesn’t think the champion player would ever play against the Roosters.
And Williams’ asking price, according to agents, could be around $900,000 a season.
“He hasn’t come up in any of our discussions for next year,” Hill said.
“There hasn’t been a conversation and we don’t have a spot for him. We haven’t spoken about him internally nor have we had any discussions with Sonny Bill or his agents.
“There is always plenty of speculation around Sonny and the Bulldogs but I can confirm there hasn’t been any discussion about Sonny playing at the club next year.
“He is not on our agenda. There has not been any expression of interest from him or us and there is no plan to have a conversation.”
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New Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett preferred not to comment on Williams when contacted by News Corp.
Canterbury players spoke publicly on Tuesday about the impact Williams could make at Belmore.
“Hey, contracts and the NRL, who knows that little question. I guess time will tell. Clubs need good players, Sonny Bill‘s a good player,” five-eighth Lachlan Lewis said.
And Canterbury back-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner added: “With the amount of young boys that we have coming through, there needs to be some sort of guidance and to have someone like Sonny Bill, with his reputation, would be good for the club to have.”