Peter V’landys rejects talk of Roosters bias as SBW return edges closer

The NRL have their hands on the letter clearing SBW return as they prepare to bend rules for superstar.

Sonny Bill Williams will be back at the Roosters once he is cleared by the English Super League. Picture: Getty Images

The NRL have their hands on the letter from Toronto Wolfpack owner David Argyle giving Sonny Bill Williams the green light to make his return to the NRL.

They are waiting on a clearance from the English Super League as Williams prepares to jet into the country on Thursday to put the finishing touches on a fairytale return to Sydney Roosters.

As much as ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys and many others in the rugby league community would like to see Williams play for the embattled Warriors, he will officially be a Roosters player in coming days.

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Roosters officials held further talks with the NRL on Monday morning and such is their confidence that a deal will be done, they have begun the process of setting up a profile for Williams in the governing body’s player register.

The NRL has and will bend over backwards to smooth the path for Williams but V’landys headed off any suggestion that the game was favouring the powerful Roosters on Monday as he insisted the rules would be enforced in the same manner no matter what team was involved.

He also insisted any revised rules would apply to other Toronto players who were keen to return to the NRL — the Warriors are among the clubs interested in signing former Cronulla centre Ricky Leutele.

Asked about accusations of favouritism, V’landys said: “I don’t see it that way at all. There is eight other players we would like to do the same thing for.

“We would like to get all eight players that want to come back to Australia. There is a massive injury list at the moment as well all know. If any player made an application we would treat them the same way.

“We’d not show fear or favouritism. Just because it is the Roosters, they shouldn’t be penalised. I think people are taking it out of context because it is the Roosters.

“If it was the Warriors it would be exactly the same. If it was Newcastle it would be exactly the same thing. You shouldn’t discriminate because it is a specific team.”

The court of public opinion may frown upon Williams’ return to the Roosters, but it now appears a fait accompli. The club and the players are bracing for the 35-year-old to take his place in the dressing room, where his influence may be every bit as decisive as it is on the field.

Roosters players have spoken enthusiastically in recent days about his impending arrival and the impact he can have on a side that has been stripped of Victor Radley and Sam Verrills through injury.

Back rower Angus Crichton is also sidelined for an extended period with a knee problem while captain Boyd Cordner missed last week with concussion and is unlikely to play against the Gold Coast this week.

“I remember watching him in primary school,” centre Joey Manu said. “It was a long time ago. I never thought I would get to play alongside him. A lot of New Zealand kids looked up to Sonny.

“Obviously what he’s achieved in his career is pretty special. So for me, it’s looking pretty exciting to see him here.

“To learn from him would be pretty cool, too.”

Williams is in the first year of a lucrative two-year deal with Toronto believed to be worth $10 million. However that deal was thrown into doubt when the Wolfpack withdrew from Super League for the remainder of this season due to COVID-19.

“When you’re talking about Sonny, they’re pretty high expectations,” captain Jake Friend said.

“We know the scenario and we know that he will have to go through a quarantine period and that he hasn’t played a whole lot of footy. But I’ve also played with him, seen how he prepares - and while that was a while ago, I can’t imagine it’s changed a whole lot.”