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Sonny Bill Williams admits he recently considered retiring

Sonny Bill Williams. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Sonny Bill Williams has revealed retirement crossed his mind before answering an SOS to return to the Sydney Roosters. Williams, counting down his final days in mandatory quarantine in a Sydney apartment before joining his Roosters teammates, said it was hard to believe he was on the verge of an NRL comeback.

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The 35-year-old former All Blacks and Roosters premiership player has signed a short-term NRL deal.

His return to the NRL comes after a stint with Toronto was cut short because of the pandemic that has forced the Wolfpack to withdraw from the remainder of the 2020 Super League season.

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“I’m not going to lie. I didn’t know when the Toronto thing fell through. I was kind of tossing up if that was it,” Williams told Nine Network’s 100% Footy.

“I was a little bit sad to think things might have ended on that note.

“But then you fast forward a couple of weeks and the opportunity arose to come back here.

“And it’s like ‘well, let’s give it a crack and see if I can still do it’.

“I’m 35 coming off surgery so that’s the challenge … hopefully we can make some good new memories over the next few months.”

Williams rejoins the Roosters as they bid for their third successive title amid one of the worst injury tolls in the NRL.

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He will finish quarantine later this week and is reportedly on a timetable to be available for selection when the Roosters meet Canberra in another grand final rematch in the nation’s capital on September 5.

After starting his NRL career with Canterbury, Williams walked out on the Bulldogs in 2008 to join French rugby side Toulon.

He went on to enjoy a successful Super Rugby career as well earning 58 caps for the All Blacks, winning a World Cup, before he was lured back to rugby league.

Williams made an immediate impact on his return to the NRL in 2013, helping the Roosters to premiership success.

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He stayed on for the 2014 season before returning to rugby.

Williams, meanwhile, said a boxing bout with retired NRL star Paul Gallen was “one hundred per cent” certain to happen.

According to Williams, the fight could be held within six months.

Gallen has long held an ambition to get into the ring with Williams but their boxing careers are yet to cross paths.

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H
Hellhound 33 minutes ago
Scotland's Gregor Townsend confirms Tom Jordan Glasgow exit

NZ lost a great player there. Played brilliantly for Glasgow and against SA was the best player on the pitch. Caused the Boks some headaches. Slot him into the current AB's team, and they would be very dangerous, especially broken play.


However, the Scots isn't stupid and their recruiting from the SH countries is starting to pay off. They don't have the player pool the SH countries have, nor that of their neighbours even.


I applaud them for being so open-minded as giving those players who have loyally played their rugby in Scotland for years a chance. SA for one have such a vast pool of players that's so talented and could be world class given the smallest chance, but will never get a look in because there is just so many stars in the country.


I don't mind that Saffas play for other countries to further their own careers. Besides, it makes Scotland better and makes for one more team to step up to the big stage and make rugby more exciting than just the top 4 that usually wins.


Scotland may have lost by 17 against a rusty Bok "B" team, but that score is not a true indication of that match. The Scottish biggest mistakes was kicking at goal the entire time, instead of going for the jugular. If they tried to go for tries, they may have been stopped and the score might have been bigger, but the game was on such a knife edge, that if they did go for it, they might have scored a couple of tries or more and we very well might have seen a Scottish upset.


It was by no means a bad effort at all. Tom Jordan is one of their best new talents coming through. He should've stayed with Glasgow. What a loss for the URC Champs. Going to Loftus and getting one over the Bulls is something that not even the so called best team in club rugby could do. Leinster keeps losing at Loftus. For Glasgow to do that in a Final was phenomenal and Tom Jordan was no small part of that feat.


Rugby is truely becoming a global sport now, where the eligibility rules is making rugby a much smaller world, but a much bigger global game. The Scots is most likely the team with the most aliens in their team. They welcome players with open arms. I applaud that. They are a sleeping giant, and if they continue playing like they did against the Boks, despite the results, they will become a real threat for 2027.


I admired how they played. They impressed everyone. I say good on them. Results will come if they continue on their upward trajectory. I wish them and Tom Jordan all the luck they deserve.

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