Homesick Sonny Bill ready to return to league -
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:23 am
A lonely and homesick Sonny Bill Williams is contemplating a return to Australia and the rugby league career he abandoned to play at French rugby club Toulon, Australian media report.
Williams joined Toulon in early August on a one-season contract with an option for a further year.
The Bulldogs released Williams from his five-year NRL contract after negotiating a financial settlement, believed to be around A$750,000 ($934,000).
Williams had been under contract with the Bulldogs through to the end of the 2012 season but walked out on the club with seven games remaining in the current campaign.
The Daily Telegraph reported today that the New Zealand-born Williams was lonely and homesick, but Bulldogs officials said he would have to return "on bended knee" and "under the club's terms and conditions".
It is understood a member of Williams' camp has spoken to a Bulldogs official.
Williams' manager, Khoder Nasser, is travelling to France to check on the welfare of his client amid rumours Williams is upset at his treatment by Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal.
Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said yesterday that he had heard the rumours "and I'm not surprised".
"Sonny Bill made his choice a couple of months ago. The club has moved on since then. It's common knowledge he can't play in the NRL with any other club than us prior to 2013."
Williams injured his leg earlier this month and is expected to be out for around three weeks.
Earlier this week, Williams edged out Bali bomber Amrozi to be named Australia's most hated person in men's magazine Zoo Weekly's notorious annual Top 50 People We Hate List.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/a ... d=10533850
Williams joined Toulon in early August on a one-season contract with an option for a further year.
The Bulldogs released Williams from his five-year NRL contract after negotiating a financial settlement, believed to be around A$750,000 ($934,000).
Williams had been under contract with the Bulldogs through to the end of the 2012 season but walked out on the club with seven games remaining in the current campaign.
The Daily Telegraph reported today that the New Zealand-born Williams was lonely and homesick, but Bulldogs officials said he would have to return "on bended knee" and "under the club's terms and conditions".
It is understood a member of Williams' camp has spoken to a Bulldogs official.
Williams' manager, Khoder Nasser, is travelling to France to check on the welfare of his client amid rumours Williams is upset at his treatment by Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal.
Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said yesterday that he had heard the rumours "and I'm not surprised".
"Sonny Bill made his choice a couple of months ago. The club has moved on since then. It's common knowledge he can't play in the NRL with any other club than us prior to 2013."
Williams injured his leg earlier this month and is expected to be out for around three weeks.
Earlier this week, Williams edged out Bali bomber Amrozi to be named Australia's most hated person in men's magazine Zoo Weekly's notorious annual Top 50 People We Hate List.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/a ... d=10533850
