Where to next for Sonny Bill?
All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams is under the spotlight once again as his decision on where his future lies comes into question once again.
The 26-year-old missed his team’s World Cup victory parades this week, as his grandmother was in hospital.
“Nans back home thanks for all your prayers. Now manager putting me under the pump!” Sonny Bill tweeted on Thursday.
Williams is never far away from the headlines and the debate on whether he should continue his career with the Crusaders and All Blacks, move overseas or return to rugby league will flare up once again.
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen, who is tipped to take over as head coach from Graham Henry, believes that Williams has a “huge” future in the team.
If he stays in union that is…
“I think he’s huge. He’s shown at this tournament what a great player he can be and we need to remember he’s only in his infancy as a rugby player.
“He’s only going to get better and better,” Hansen told Rugby Heaven.
“He’ll be the best player in the world in a number of positions if he wants to be. His value to the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby is immense, so hopefully he stays and that would be great if he does.”
The NZRU has an offer on the table for Williams and are waiting for a response from his manager Khoder Nasser.
The Super Rugby franchises are due to name their squads in the near future, with Williams hot property and at the top of the wish list for a number of coaches. He formed an excellent partnership with Robbie Fruean in the Crusaders midfield this year, but the Blues and the Chiefs are also in the running to secure his signature.
Hansen explained that there hadn’t been any pressure applied to Williams to persuade him to lengthen his 14-Test career into 2012, but is hoping that will be his decision.
“It’s not about leaning on him. He’s got to do what’s right for him and his career.
“We’ll just let him go through the process. He’s got a very good manager in Khoder and he’ll work it out. All I can say is we’d love him to stay, he’s a great player.”
There have also been rumours that Nasser, who is also the manager for Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper, has been testing the water with some rugby league clubs to see what they would offer for the pair.
Rugby league commentator Matthew Johns believes both Williams and Cooper would be a success in the league code and should be pursued to make the switch from union.
“Those rugby types who wanted to praise Quade and then rip into him really need to have a good look at themselves and the game they are involved with,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“To make Quade a whipping boy for their terrible displays is a disgrace. The kid was left posted. Quade and Sonny are drawcards in either code and any money that clubs spend on those blokes would come back in marketing and merchandising in a minute.”
