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SBW set to exit quarantine, bringing his NRL return another step closer

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Sonny Bill Williams still has the fire to succeed in the NRL, according to Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson. The 35-year-old and his family will leave their Sydney hotel quarantine on Thursday night, just before the Roosters take on Melbourne Storm at the SCG.

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After completing a medical examination he will have his first training session with the Roosters at the weekend. He has been using gym equipment while in the two weeks quarantine and although he has had minor knee surgery, he is expected to hit the ground running after his recent stint with Toronto in the Super League.

Williams last played in the NRL in 2014, in between stretches in rugby union where he earned 58 caps for the All Blacks and won a World Cup.

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RugbyPass brings you the latest episode of The Breakdown, the Sky Sport NZ TV rugby programme

Despite his achievements, Robinson sensed Williams would rise to the challenge of playing in the NRL again and play a role in their charge to a third successive title.

“We can talk about all his attributes and people can see them, it’s the courage he has to play footy… that’s the biggest one,” Robinson said of Williams, the new Roosters signing. “Around all the talents you see, the man has got a fire in him, he’s got a hunger to perform and he loves playing in a team environment.”

Williams is pencilled in to make his return in their round 17 grand final rematch against the Raiders in Canberra on September 5. Robinson played his cards close to his chest when asked about how he planned to use the veteran. “I would like to keep those private, the conversations between Sonny and I about the way we will use him,” Robinson said.

“We’ve had lots of discussions and then we will start to see him move and how he connects with the guys around him and that will give us a further idea about how we will use him.”

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M
MA 2 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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