Re: Sbw to Toronto : Tue Oct 29, 2019 8:47 am  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

Sonny Bill Wiliams is now 34.

Steven Menzies played until he was almost 40 for the Catalans, and he was still a star of Super League at that time.

Don`t you mean Sonny William Williams Jean?

If Toronto have got that money to spend, it would be wasted on SBW imho, yes he is a huge name but he is now in decline and as someone has already stated they could pick up 3 or 4 top Aussies for that money that could make a real difference to there team.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Tue Oct 29, 2019 9:13 am  

Throwing their money away, it’s like buying a Ferrari with 100,000 miles on the clock.

If they are going to spend big money then why not spend it sensibly. They could use that 9million and buy 3 top players to form the core of their team in Superleague.

That could be 3 or 4 top players sign over 3 years.

You could buy the top players in the NRL and SL for that, I’m thinking Roger Tuiavasa-Sheck at 1, Shaun Johnson at 6, Mitchel Pierce at 7 and Daryl Clarke at 9 and still have change.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Tue Oct 29, 2019 9:41 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

SBW is an absolute class player in both codes and not too many have achieved that accolade in recent years.
It would be a major coup for Toronto to have him on their books and any RL fan that wouldn't want to see the guy play, frankly, isn't a RL fan.

However, the contract that is being quoted is eye watering and way over the odds for any player but, apart from Toronto having to find his wages every month, this is win/win

A bit harsh that innit guv?, nobody's doubting how good he's been, unfortunately he's no longer an absolute super star in both codes but an ageing player well past his best who unlike a bottle of fine french wine is unlikely to get better with age.

By your own admission the fees quoted are well over the odds which I would imagine are manageable by somebody with more money than sense which to some extent contradicts your first paragraph, and on that basis I'm not sure where the win/win situation comes from when with a couple of bob more put to it could take his pick of half the Aussie national side.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Tue Oct 29, 2019 9:42 am  

If i was a Toronto fan, id be worried about spending that much money, on an ageing player who hasnt played league for years. As a Leeds fan who wants the game here to prosper, Sonny Bill would be an amazing addition to the comp, he's still one of, if not the biggest names in either code, he'l bring lots of much needed publicity to the game. Well done Toronto if they sign him.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Tue Oct 29, 2019 9:50 am  

homme vaste wrote:

Don`t you mean Sonny William Williams Jean?

If Toronto have got that money to spend, it would be wasted on SBW imho, yes he is a huge name but he is now in decline and as someone has already stated they could pick up 3 or 4 top Aussies for that money that could make a real difference to there team.

The Sydney Roosters had tried to get him to join their illustrious coaching ranks, which in 2020 will include not only Trent Robinson, but also Cooper Cronk and Craig Fitzgibbon. That is because the Chairman and the coach of the Sydney Roosters valued SBW's inspirational role in moulding the Roosters players into a more professional team in 2013.

However even the wealthy Roosters management could not compete with billionaire David Argyle's seemingly bottomless pit of money.

Yet we should look on the bright side of this signing. Assuming that SBW plays as a second rower, his possible combination with ace centre Richard Leutele could create an awesome attacking force for the Toronto Wolfpack.

That is why I hope that the illustrious New Zealander will join the Toronto team, and help them to carve up Super League.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Tue Oct 29, 2019 10:31 am  

I can see their logic if the story is true. But, it’s plain daft. He may be well known and attract publicity but better publicity would come from building a team that would win things. For that money they could attract real, younger talent and win SL.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Tue Oct 29, 2019 10:32 am  

I think it can only be good for the sport. Yes he's not the player he was (although I'm sure he'll still be a top player in SL) If he does sign it will he one of the top stories on Sky Sports News, all the papers will cover it. They'll be talking about RL again whereas at the moment they're just not. It also shows that there is some money in the sport.

I hope he signs.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Tue Oct 29, 2019 10:57 am  

Bull Mania wrote:

I think it can only be good for the sport. Yes he's not the player he was (although I'm sure he'll still be a top player in SL) If he does sign it will he one of the top stories on Sky Sports News, all the papers will cover it. They'll be talking about RL again whereas at the moment they're just not. It also shows that there is some money in the sport.

I hope he signs.

Good. At least someone can see the good news side of this story.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:18 am  

post wrote:

Throwing their money away, it’s like buying a Ferrari with 100,000 miles on the clock.

If they are going to spend big money then why not spend it sensibly. They could use that 9million and buy 3 top players to form the core of their team in Superleague.

That could be 3 or 4 top players sign over 3 years.

You could buy the top players in the NRL and SL for that, I’m thinking Roger Tuiavasa-Sheck at 1, Shaun Johnson at 6, Mitchel Pierce at 7 and Daryl Clarke at 9 and still have change.

Not for $9m over 2/3 years you can’t. There’s only 2 marquee player spots. The best you can do is split that over 2 players.
I’m assuming Toronto are betting that big name from both codes of rugby, a name supersedes all other RL names will buy them so much publicity and marketing that it’s worth the cost. A name like SBW also attracts other players.
It’s a risk, but maybe not as big a one as some are suggesting.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:56 am  

The biggest issue here is the prescedent it sets.

All agents will potentially demand a big hike in wages.

In RL we all regard footballers as overpaid prima donas. This could set RL down that same path.

The genie is now out of the bottle.....