Sonny Bill Williams has joined Cameron Smith in the ranks of retiring NRL greats, officially calling time on his football career to focus on boxing.
Key points:
- Sonny Bill Williams played 123 NRL games and 58 rugby union Tests for the All Blacks
- Roosters coach Trent Robinson said he has “the tools” to become an NRL coach
- Williams also has a 7-0 professional boxing record, dating back to 2009
A day after Melbourne, Queensland and Australia superstar Smith retired, Williams has hung up his boots, on day one of the 2021 NRL season.
The dual international All Black and Kiwi most recently played for the Sydney Roosters at the back end of the 2020 NRL season, answering an SOS from the club after his Canadian club, Toronto Wolfpack, folded last year.
Williams’s official retirement announcement ends a career that included two NRL premierships — 2004 and 2013 — in his 123 games at Canterbury and the Roosters.
He won back-to-back rugby World Cups and is one of 33 men to have represented New Zealand in both rugby codes.
“A massive thankyou to the public & fans for all the support over years,” Williams posted on social media on Thursday.
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“To my many teammates, thanks for the lessons & help along the way. It wasn’t a perfect journey, but the lessons have helped shape me into the man I’m proud to be off the field today. #AlwaysAlhamdullilah”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said Williams has “got the tools” to make the jump to coaching in the NRL.
The 35-year-old has been spending time at the Roosters in the pre-season in a voluntary capacity, having visited club training twice in the past fortnight with a particular emphasis on guiding 17-year-old Joseph Suaalii.
A mentoring role has been in the pipeline for some time, with the topic of coaching first broached by Williams on his NRL return last year.
“He wanted to have a look at that. And he has come back in to learn,” Robinson said.
AAP: Dean Lewins
)“It’s natural for him, he’s been singularly focused for such a long time, to then start to work out where’s my next role in life … A part of that is spending time with us.”
He has also spoken passionately about getting more Indigenous and Pasifika players into leadership roles within clubs and the league.
“It’s whether he is going to overlay that in the work needed to strip it all back and understand the art of coaching, which takes a bit of time.
“Passion has been a driver for him for many years.
“Seeing where that passion lies for the next few years will be really interesting for us and him.”
But first, Williams will look to build on his 7-0 boxing career, although he has not fought professionally since 2015.
ABC/AAP
