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Warning issued to Sonny Bill Williams after the recent return of Ben Te'o to NRL

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold has warned Sonny Bill Williams the NRL has changed in his absence after watching Ben Te’o struggle to get up to speed. Williams was bound for Sydney on Wednesday, leaving his base in Manchester and ending a rare period in ‘holiday mode’ for the dual-code star.

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The 34-year-old had planned a European getaway once Toronto pulled out of the Super League, but he has now made a snap decision to return to the NRL.

It took just a few calls from Trent Robinson and Nick Politis to have him back at the injury-plagued Roosters and part of their hunt for an elusive three-peat. But now Seibold warns the toughest part awaits.

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Like Williams, Te’o also switched to rugby union at the end of 2014 after winning that year’s premiership with Souths. He too had success in the 15-man game, playing 18 Test games for England as well as two more with the British and Irish Lions when Williams was playing as an All Blacks star.

Te’o made his return for Brisbane last month and Seibold said the 33-year-old had found it physically tougher than expected. “It’s been challenging for Ben – it’s been probably a little harder than what he thought it was going to be,” Seibold said.

“The ball-in-play time is significantly larger in rugby league compared to international and club rugby. Ben has felt the game physically has advanced immensely since he last played and from a rugby union players’ perspective it’s been really challenging.”

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Seibold said it was to Williams’ advantage that he played five games with the Wolfpack this year before the Super League shutdown. “He’s played some games this year while Ben came in cold; we couldn’t even play him in the Queensland Cup because of that competition being suspended. Ben’s had to learn again on the run after six years and it’s been challenging for him.”

Despite the warning, Williams insisted he is ready for the challenge of returning to the NRL code that made him. “It’s the challenge that lights a fire inside of you,” he told the Nine Network. “You’re a long time retired.

“Everyone knows it’s no secret that I’m pretty close with the lads at the Roosters, Nick (the club chairman) and Trent (the coach). I stay in contact with them now and then.

“Trent just gave me a call and inquired about what was happening over here and Nick hit me up and asked if I had a couple of months in me to come back. To be honest, I hadn’t trained for a bit and I’d been in holiday mode.”

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Williams and his family will spend two weeks in quarantine upon arrival in Australia and he isn’t expected to play before round 17.

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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