The verdict is in: Did Sonny Bill Williams live up to the hype?

Sonny Bill Williams’ mid-season return to the NRL had everyone talking — but did the Roosters’ new recruit actually live up to the hype?

Sonny Bill Williams’ future remains a mystery.

Sonny Bill Williams saved his best for last but it wasn’t enough to keep the Roosters’ dream of a premiership three-peat alive.

Canberra defeated the tri-colours 22-18 on Friday night as the Raiders booked a date with Melbourne in next week’s preliminary final.

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Williams arrived at Bondi mid-season as coach Trent Robinson tried to sprinkle some magic dust over his side to drive it towards a third successive grand final win. While everyone expected the 35-year-old’s stay in the NRL to be short and sweet, he says he’s yet to make up his mind about continuing next season.

“I’m not too sure at this stage, I’ve got to talk to the wife,” Williams told Nine. “These old joints are a little bit tough to get out of the starting blocks each week.

“We will see what happens with Toronto and if that falls through, then who knows, I might be standing here next year holding that microphone.

“Tough result tonight but I’m just grateful to still be here doing it.”

Williams missed last week’s one-point loss to Penrith with a neck injury and was in doubt heading into Friday night’s do-or-die clash. Some pundits suggested during the week even if Williams was fit, Robinson might leave him out of the side because he wasn’t one of the Roosters’ top 17 players anymore.

He hadn’t been setting the world on fire and people were questioning whether he could keep pace with his rivals anymore.

But Williams proved the doubters wrong. The Kiwi’s 38 minutes on the park were his best since leaving the Toronto Wolfpack and landing in Australia.

His runs had impact, bending the line, he was more involved than ever and the trademark offloads were being thrown at will as he tried everything to spark a Roosters comeback.

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Williams was fantastic in his last outing of the season.

Williams couldn’t do it on his own and while he’s certainly not the same player he was when he last left the NRL in 2014, the veteran showed he’s more than capable of contributing after working up a head of steam.

Nine sports reporter Danny Weidler tweeted: “All those who bagged @SonnyBWilliams in the lead up — he stood up like a champion. Not bad for 35 with little prep. IF that’s his last NRL game it’s been a great career.”

Former sports writer Todd Balym added: “It was great to see him hit ball at speed & offload. Not just pass before the line. Looked gassed at times but pushed on. Fair effort all round.”

Whether a last-gasp fling is enough to convince judges Williams has what it takes to play a full season in the NRL next season remains to be seen.

Parramatta legend Peter Sterling agreed the back-rower was awesome last night and deemed his return a success, but ruled him out of continuing in 2021.

“He won’t be in the NRL, I don’t see a full season there,” Sterling told Nine. “He was fantastic tonight. He was a real success story this year.

“If you’d have said halfway through the year that Sonny Bill Williams would be running around in a semi-final, you would’ve said, ‘What are you taking about?’

“He came back and slowly got back to a situation where he could play. I thought he was big tonight.

“But he will be a success at whatever he does because he has the mindset and willpower.”

If the loss to Canberra was Williams’ last dance in the NRL, he left on a classy note.

“Congrats to the Raiders on the win! A big thanks to my fellow teammates, coach, coaching staff, all the people at the Roosters, sponsors, supporters, the board and Nick Politis,” he tweeted after the game.