TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 18: Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks runs through drills during the New Zealand All Blacks Captain's run at Tatsuminomori Seaside Park on October 18, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The Sydney Roosters are interested in signing Sonny Bill Williams, according to nine.com.au.

The report states that Williams was seen at an inner-Sydney cafe during the week with Roosters chairman Nick Politis.

The off-contract 34-year old has been widely tipped to retire from sport following the All Blacks' Japan campaign.

The Tri-colours reportedly would likely want Williams in a coaching role in a couple of years to help drive culture and mentor the group.

It is believed that a number of teams are interested in signing him after the World Cup, including Toronto Wolfpack.

"Our club would want to have a name that's absolutely international that everybody would recognise and help the profile of our game, very much like David Beckham did for Major League Soccer," Toronto coach Brian McDermott said.

"But he would have to be a very good player as well, he's got to be able to do the job that I want him to do. There would be no token player or just a headline-grabbing player."

13 COMMENTS

  1. I see this as being in line with the pattern that is continued at the sombreros as part of the TPA for high profile signings.
    A guaranteed job at the sombreros after retirement to make up the fee for signing as a player and staying under the salary cap.
    Cronk has his university studies paid by the club on top of a lucrative coaching role.
    Fittler a lucrative media role with the nine network.
    I believe Keary and Tedesco will follow suit on retirement to name a couple more.
    How else do you fit 9 origin level players (including 2 selected this year but for injury) under the cap?
    Now SBW about to retire and straight into a high paid coaching role. How predictable.
    Nothing illegal about it and well done Politis on your salary cap management.

  2. Customers at a nearby table thought they were in the presence of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito discussing their roles for the Australian version of the film Twins.

  3. DEAR ZERO TACKLE. Twentyone constantly falsely implies cheating which he has continually been expressing every since he re-emerged as Twentyone after being banned previously on here as Steve.Syd

    I respect whatever action you feel is appropriate in dealing with this matter Zero Tackle towards this ill minded Twentyone. He also wishes harm on Our great game bringing Rugby League into disrepute continually, insinuating false claims against high profile people like Mr Politis and the Eastern Suburbs Rugby League Football Club otherwise known as Sydney Roosters for false claims of cheating. Again Zero Tackle for the good of this wonderful site. Mentally disturbed individuals such as Twentyone need to be banned.

  4. Sony Bill Williams has a presence that rubs off onto all the players and brings out the very best of each player’s attributes and abilities.
    Almost to the same extent as Cooper Cronk. Very similar influences on a club.
    Cooper has an abundance of football knowledge and would make the perfect full time coach. Sony is a brilliant motivator and will be an excellent assistant coach.
    If the Roosters can get these two champions in their coaching squad. I feel The Mighty Sydney Roosters will lift up the Premiership Trophy for the 22nd time in the year 2026.

  5. Oh Well, Cheat Club Broosters have Plenty of Money since the Salary Cap Does Not apply to this cheat club due to the services of the Corruption Corp NRL.

  6. Its not a TPA its an inducement. The article you pointed to in the S.M.H 5 days before the G.F was all about inducements.
    These are outside the Cap and are Legal. Thats why he said Easts are not cheating and are playing within the rules.
    All clubs offer inducements. He also said that these alone will not mean success.
    You also need to have good systems and coaching staff as well as getting the best out of the players on the field.
    But you are right Nothing illegal in that.

  7. Oh ok inducements. Well that sounds totally legit. Even if it is within the rules it sounds like its making a mockery of the cap.

    I also think it would be naive to assume all clubs do it. Some clubs can barely afford to even pay the cap. Why would they pay inducements instead.

  8. So they use inducements , as well as T.P.D.’s . That are set up totally by the player managers & have nothing to do with the club.
    The dodgy duo of Joe Kelly & Daniel Anderson have been very busy over the last year . They learned from their mistakes in getting caught at their last clubs for salary cap cheating , that’s for sure.

  9. Mark.mywords October 21, 2019 at 4:57 pm
    “Sony Bill Williams has a presence that rubs off onto all the players and brings out the very best of each player’s attributes and abilities.”
    He certainly brought out the best from Ben Teo in 2014 who who had him running from the NRL after the hiding he gave him in the semi.
    ” I feel The Mighty Sydney Roosters will lift up the Premiership Trophy for the 22nd time in the year 2026.”
    You might have to recalculate after the stripping of 3 premierships for salary cap cheating and ref bribes if the 2019 GF was any indication I believe.

  10. butters Its not even if its within the rules it is within the rules. Is it a mockery? Some say yes.
    To say it would be naive to assume all clubs do it i would say its naive to think they dont.
    Some clubs can barely afford to even pay the cap. You make it sound the clubs pay the salary of players.
    Salaries are payed by the NRL. Last year the NRL gave each club 14 million. 9.4 of that was the cap they had to stay inside of.
    They are not paying inducements instead its not a cash payment outside the cap that would then be a brown paper bag.
    Thats what got the Storm into trouble ans cost them 2 premierships and a 1.7 million fine.
    Think of an inducement as a carrot. A club might say the NRL allows us to give a lease car to 5 of our 30 contracted players worth 20k each. Sign with us we will make sure your one those 5.
    They might also say sign with us we will pay for you to get a trade like a Plumber or a Builder. You want to go to UNI for 3 years and get a Degree we will foot the cost.
    If you get sick we provide 5 star medical premiums. Any prize money the club gets goes to the players.
    We will pay relocation costs. They are some of the inducements clubs offer.
    All clubs are free to do the same and i think they do.

  11. TwentyOne What happened mate yesterday you had the white hat on talking about Slanderous and Defamatory posts and damaging the reputation of high profile people.
    Now your saying the refs took bribes to throw the G.F.? That has to come under both those headings. What gives?

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