Roosters can afford Sonny Bill Williams, but is he worth it?

Sonny Bill WIlliams in action for Toronto Wolfpack in the English Super League earlier this year. Picture: AFP

Rugby league’s doubting Thomas mob expects Sonny Bill Williams to arrive at Kingsford Smith ­Airport, jump in the back of Nick Politis’ car — the one with the windows tinted black — get a nod and a wink from the boss, reach under his seat, find a brown paper bag, and then the keys to the car itself, and assorted other goodies, maybe some Lego for the kids and a diamond ring for his wife, before he goes into quarantine ahead of a strike mission for Sydney Roosters that may sink like a stone.

Everybody is going gaga about Williams’ aura. How it’s powerful enough to make him worth $150,000 for 20-minute bursts in half a dozen matches.

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If the Roosters want spiritual enlightenment, they should have signed the Dalai Lama.

Williams’ value in his first incarnation as a Rooster has, yes, been the professionalism and the humility — touch his cloak and you’re healed — but also his matchwinning exploits.

The latter is crucial. Cannot be overlooked. But it is in doubt.

He was cumbersome, error-prone and ordinary for the Toronto Wolfpack before the Super League went belly-up. He’s going to have a target on his back here. Ferocious opposition forwards will revel in knocking the great Williams on his arse.

Luke Keary and Mitchell Aubusson during Sydney Roosters training at a rain-soaked Kippax oval on Monday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The risk for the Roosters is that the 35-year-old may no longer be up to speed in the speediest ever NRL. Hell, not all the current ­players can keep up. Williams hasn’t played the NRL for six years. It’s still league, Sonny boy, but not as one knows it.

The salary-cap grumblings are predictable and a yawn. Far more interesting is whether he’s still any good as a player. Or on his way as a human headline.

Cooper Cronk, who seemingly walked on water at the Roosters, says Williams is the one who has really walked on water in years gone by. On Fox Sports, he tells a story of Williams taking pen and paper to coach Trent Robinson’s meetings. Jotting everything down like he’s in a Tony Robbins seminar. The week after, another player has done it. And then ­another. Now they all have pen and paper.

It prompts an image of obedient Roosters sitting behind small wooden desks and saying at the start of team meetings, “Good morning, Mr Robinson” and Robinson wrapping up team meetings like it’s the end of a school lesson: “Any questions or comments?”

I have one. Can Williams still play?

Time will tell. Even Jesus only walked on water once. For now, the NRL’s cynics, who number as many as the stars in the sky, are trotting out the old lines about the Roosters rorting the salary cap.

 

Well, the News Corp rich list of NRL players has been revealing in this regard.

How, may you ask, doubting Thomas, do the Roosters — and the Storm, for that matter — fit all those superstars on their rosters?

The salary breakdown suggests they do it by having so much to offer as clubs — from roster strength to coaching prowess to hard-forged mateship to grand final rings — that their elite players stay for less money than they can get elsewhere.

Roosters co-captain Jake Friend, for instance, is probably among the 20 most valuable club players in the NRL. He’s not in the top 100 for earnings. Luke Keary is one of the game’s top five players. He’s not in the top 50 for size of pay packet. The Morris twins are worth their weight in gold. Like Friend, they’re outside the top 100.

Powerhouse, metre-eating props like Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sio Siua Taukeiaho don’t rate among the five biggest earners for front-rowers. Lock Victor Radley is going for a song. Fullback James Tedesco is the $1 million man at the Roosters, and worth every zack. But he’s the only member of his club in the top 30. That’s remarkable.

Only Roosters, NSW and Australia captain Boyd Cordner is the highest NRL earner for his position. Every dollar these blokes accept below their market value is salary cap space. Enough space to get Williams back on board.

The age-old scepticism about the Roosters and the allegedly sombrero-sized salary cap isn’t the issue with Williams. They have over-the-top success from blokes taking unders. It’s whether Williams is still any good. You can’t win a premiership with a passenger.

Friend said on Monday: “It (cap speculation) is not something I read into or am really worried about. It’s good for you to write about, but I leave it alone. I can only speak on behalf of myself. It’s a great club. I feel like we’ve built a good culture and obviously players are wanting to come and be a part of that.

“Hopefully that continues … I’m sure there’s plenty to learn off Sonny. I’m sure Sonny’s coming to learn plenty of stuff off us. That’s why this place is getting the players that it is. Because there’s good guys here and plenty to learn.”