Six years on and Sonny Bill Williams is still centre of attention

Sonny Bill Williams will be the centre of attention on Saturday night with a TV camera trained solely on the Sydney Roosters star.

Sonny Bill Williams talks to Siosiua Taukeiaho and Boyd Cordner during a Roosters training session. Picture: Getty Images

Sonny Bill Williams has just turned 35 and hasn’t played in the NRL for six years but in a bow to his superstar status, Fox League is set to have a camera trained solely on the Sydney Roosters forward in Canberra on Saturday night.

There will be no hiding in the nation’s capital.

Williams kept a low profile at Roosters training on Monday but he will be the centre of attention at GIO Stadium. Williams is expected to make his mark off the interchange bench but, when he does enter the action, a camera will shadow his every move.

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The last time Fox League had a dedicated camera on one player was when Jarryd Hayne returned to the Gold Coast from the NFL four years ago. Williams’ return is as highly anticipated.

The Raiders released 1500 tickets for sale on Monday morning and they were snapped up in 15 minutes. Williams is still box office.

Canberra have applied to double the capacity for Saturday night’s game but they aren’t holding their breadth given the COVID environment.

That means only another 1500 tickets will be made available to the public and the likelihood is that they will be snaffled in rapid-fire time.

Ratings on Fox League are expected to be through the roof given they have exclusive rights to the game.

“We will have a camera on him,” Fox Sports head of television Steve Crawley said.

“Six years on, no one is sure what to expect but people will respond to him coming back, there’s no doubt about that. I just think it is brilliant for the game and, even if there is not record ratings, there will be increased ratings and there will be a lot of interest.

“Well done to (Sydney Roosters chair) Nick Politis and (ARL Commission chair) Peter V’landys.”

A heavily bandaged Sonny Bill Williams at Roosters training in Sydney as he prepares for his NRL return. Picture: Media Mode

Williams will be integrated into a Roosters side on a two-game winning streak, having bounced back from their loss to Melbourne with successive shellackings of Wests Tigers and Brisbane.

You could mount an argument that coach Trent Robinson is taking a risk should he rush Williams into the squad. The Roosters are purring. Why rock the boat?

“I think it would have been a risk if we tried to rush him in straight away,” fullback James Tedesco said. “He has had two weeks in quarantine and two weeks at training as well. I think the club has done everything they can to get him right for NRL.

“If he is not going to play the next few weeks, when can you play him? I think everyone has high expectations going off what he did in the NRL a while ago now.

“He is such a professional on and off the field. He is going to be a class act for us. He is a bit older now and probably not as fit as he was in his 20s.

“Skilfully, he still has it. I am sure he can hit pretty hard too.”

Nat Butcher added: “He’s looked great this past couple of weeks’ training. He is incredible — a great athlete.

“Look forward to playing with him, hopefully. I know he has great footy in him and he is going to be able to produce for us when he plays.

“Hopefully he doesn’t take my position.”

His return coincides with the landmark 300th appearance in the NRL for Josh Morris. Morris has been a star for as long as most people can remember.

He has played against Williams but never with him. Williams walked out on Canterbury to move to rugby union in 2008. Morris arrived at the Bulldogs a year later.

Now he stands on the cusp of history as Williams returns. Hopefully Morris will be have his chance to shine as the Williams sideshow unfolds around him.

“After I left the Dogs, probably didn’t think 300 was achievable,” Morris said.

“Probably the last 50 games have been the most enjoyable and I feel like I am playing some of my best footy.

“It has been 14 years in the making. I think after next year, that will be it. I will have squeezed every bit of talent out of my body.”

What makes the moment all the more special is that he will get to play his 300th game alongside his twin brother, Brett. The pair are enjoying their twilight years.

“I think he is reliable to be honest,” Brett Morris said of his brother.

“You know what you are going to get when J-Moz runs out on the field. He is one of those centres who pride himself on shutting opposition down.

“When he gets his hands on the ball, he is a beast. He is a reliable guy.”