Re: Sbw to Toronto : Wed Oct 30, 2019 12:47 pm  

Hatfield tiger wrote:

Is he class? - he certainly was.

As for RU - he came on when England had absolutely battered the Kiwis up front and had no other options than to try and move the ball around via SBW offloads. He and New Zealand were totally ineffectual in that respect and was easily defended against.

If he were such a massive attraction why is there not an offer of a contract in the NRL. The best he can hope for is a new deal in RU, a coaching role in Oz, or a crazy deal at the end of his career - much like the one he is being offered now.

The reality is that its a gimic - he can still play and play well but that money is just crazy for one player - going to be great for moral as well

Lol.

If you believe no nrl sides want SBW I have a bridge to sell you.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Wed Oct 30, 2019 1:33 pm  

Hatfield tiger wrote:

Is he class? - he certainly was.

As for RU - he came on when England had absolutely battered the Kiwis up front and had no other options than to try and move the ball around via SBW offloads. He and New Zealand were totally ineffectual in that respect and was easily defended against.

If he were such a massive attraction why is there not an offer of a contract in the NRL. The best he can hope for is a new deal in RU, a coaching role in Oz, or a crazy deal at the end of his career - much like the one he is being offered now.

The reality is that its a gimic - he can still play and play well but that money is just crazy for one player - going to be great for moral as well

Let's see where he ends up then, shall we
If SBW is the player that you describe, he wouldn't get a deal in either the NRS, SL or Union and would be put out to grass.
There will be offers from all 3 of these and as I said previously, IF Toronto have offered the HUGE contract that is rumoured and he still ends up somewhere else, it would suggest that he is indeed still in demand.
In League, the guy has it all, power, strength, agility, superb handling skills and the heart of a lion and tbf, that skillset, although great in Union, is much better suited to RL and I really do hope that he ends up in SL (and not back in Union or The NRL).

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Wed Oct 30, 2019 1:45 pm  

Him wrote:

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.

According to the Frenchman he's adamant it's a two year deal, that being the case that would put him on $90.000 a week, more stupid than risky.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Wed Oct 30, 2019 5:52 pm  

I am surprised that nobody on here has realised that Sonny Bill Williams, if he signs a two year contract, will be eligible to play for New Zealand in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

That eventuality would surely boost public and media attention to rugby league's pinnacle event.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Wed Oct 30, 2019 5:57 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Rubbish.
SBW is absolute class and you know it.
The only issues here are whether he would go to Toronto, rather than stay in the NRL and the absolute eye watering contract that he's supposed to have been offered.
IF and it's a huge if, Toronto could secure his signature, it would be a massive boost to them and a statement of intent for their SL aspirations.

On the subject of RU, I think that you will find that the Kiwi coach believes that he is most effective coming on later in the game, after 50/60 mins, when he can be used to create space, for either himself or his team mates to score, it's called tactics.

SBW was a squad player, used in the last 20 minutes of games when opponents were tired. Itnwas a tactic that worked when the abs were dominating in games...... Looking good behind a dominating pack is easy..... What happened last weekend shows what use he is when starved of decent ball.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Wed Oct 30, 2019 8:31 pm  

Remember this at Warrington......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok-AIOF-wiM PMSL at the time

Remember this at Warrington......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok-AIOF-wiM PMSL at the time

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Wed Oct 30, 2019 9:36 pm  

Williams played an average of 28 minutes over 5 All Black games at the current RWC, starting one game and being used as an impact sub 3 times and was rested for the namibian game. He scored 1 try against Canada (the lowest scoring side at the comp).
In 7 Games in 2015 RWC he played a average 40 minutes a game and scored 1 try.
In 2011 he scored 4 tries in an average game time of 62 minutes in pool play where he started 3 games and was used 3 times as an impact sub in the finals games.

So, he's gone from 62 minutes to 28 minutes of game time as a substitute in Union and people think he's the "David Beckham" of North American Rugby League

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Wed Oct 30, 2019 9:55 pm  

Why are people making such a big deal about his lack of game time for the All Blacks. I remember when reports of him coming back to league came out last year and it was widely tipped he wouldn't even make the world cup squad.

Little minutes in the RU world cup has little interest to me. If SBW can still rip it up in Rugby League which I am sure he can then that's all that matters. This would be a great signing for Toronto.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Wed Oct 30, 2019 11:35 pm  

This could happen. The fact its Toronto is a huge pull alone.

SBW gets paid a fortune, becomes a star in SL likely to win man of Steel all while living in Toronto. NRL of course a huge pull but at the same time SBW has already achieved everything in Australia, unless he fancies trying to take another side to a premiership.

Re: Sbw to Toronto : Thu Oct 31, 2019 7:59 am  

kobashi wrote:

Why are people making such a big deal about his lack of game time for the All Blacks. I remember when reports of him coming back to league came out last year and it was widely tipped he wouldn't even make the world cup squad.

Little minutes in the RU world cup has little interest to me. If SBW can still rip it up in Rugby League which I am sure he can then that's all that matters. This would be a great signing for Toronto.

Exactly

The all blacks could put out a 5th string team that would muller the league NZ team such is their strength in depth, which is why the fact he made the world cup squad tells you how much quality the guy has