I couldn't resist Tana's mana - Sonny Bill

PENNY BRADFIELD/SMH

STAUNCH SUPPORT: Sonny Bill Williams welcomes Anthony Mundine to Toulon training.

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Sonny Bill Williams has fired back at critics who labelled him "greedy" and "cowardly" for walking out on his contract with the Bulldogs and also emphasised the appeal of linking with All Blacks legend Tana Umaga at Toulon rugby.

Williams also called for the NRL's salary cap to be abolished in an interview with Fairfax columnist Danny Weidler that aired on Australia's The Footy Show on Thursday night.

Williams, who fled Sydney to sign with Toulon in France, said the Umaga fit was perfect for what he wanted to achieve with his footballing talents now.

"Everything added up - ex-rugby league player, rugby union convert, All Blacks captain, Samoan heritage, icon of the game. It sums it up, really," Williams said of Umaga.

Williams pointed out that a previous decision to stay on at the Bulldogs rather than take up an offer from St Helens had cost him $1.2 million over two years.

But after becoming disillusioned with the hard-nosed business approach adopted by the Bulldogs that led to teammates Kane Cleal and Corey Hughes being shown the door, and his fractured relationship with coach Steve Folkes, Williams came to believe NRL players should get what they could out of a game he has resigned himself to never playing again.

"I love rugby league  I'm one of those young kids that used to love watching everything about rugby league but now, being at the club and seeing what's going on behind the scenes.  I see that it's just a business," a sometimes emotional Williams said.

"They don't care about me, they treat us like cattle.

"Anthony Mundine 10 years ago was paid $600,000 a year. If he was paid that in today's game, he'd be the game's highest-paid player. You name me a sport anywhere in the world where the player's salaries have gone [down] like that.

"[NRL chief executive] David Gallop doesn't have a salary cap on what he can earn. The chief executives don't, the coaches don't, lawyers don't, bus drivers don't, so why do players? Why are the players the ones losing out? You know, I think the  salary cap should be abolished, and we should have less number of teams but better quality games."

Told he had been called a "greedy bastard" for walking out on the remaining four years of his Bulldogs contract to take up a lucrative deal with French rugby club Toulon, he said: "If I was a greedy bastard, why wouldn't I have signed for $1 million [a year]. I stayed for $400,000, so am I still a greedy bastard?"

He rejected claims that the way he left was "cowardly" and a "dog act".

"Cowards are people that run away. I didn't run away," Williams said. "I stood up, I stood up for myself, for what I believe in [and] I stood up for all those other players that are sitting at home. I had to have balls to do what I've done. I'm no coward, you know.

"Do you think before I left I didn't think my name was going to get slammed, that I wasn't going to get vilified, that my family weren't going to get harassed, that I wasn't going to be made out to be some rapist, some killer, some murderer? For those people, or that person, or whoever that called me a dog, dogs take orders, I don't take orders. They need to go ask themselves who's giving them orders."

Williams said the Bulldogs had some unexpected extra cash after Willie Mason had been allowed to leave during the off-season, his departure following the loss of players such as Mark O'Meley and Braith Anasta. He then began questioning the club's tough business approach.

"All of a sudden because I think they have a little bit of money to spend they might show me a little bit of loyalty back," he said.

"They use my name [to sell sponsorships and promote the club], so I'm thinking, what's going on here  it's just a big snowball, and then I start realising, do they really care about me? Do they really care about the boys? I think it is my duty now to speak up, especially for the Polynesian boys."

Williams also had a shot at his previous manager, Gavin Orr, and said he had approached Khoder Nasser to look after his affairs - a move that sparked a clash with Folkes after the coach asked whether he was going to become a Muslim, and advised him to stay clear of Mundine.

"People think he has brainwashed me," Williams said of Nasser. "[But] I am so much better off financially  mentally, I'm in a great mind, I don't drink any more  I don't do drugs, I don't smoke."

Williams said he had spoken to some Williams said he had spoken to some of his former teammates. "I've explained the whole situation, and at first a couple of them were a bit, 'Oh the way you left, you didn't tell,' but when I explained the situation, they were behind me 100 per cent."

Can Tana Umaga make SBW a rugby great? Have your say below.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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JohnN   #101   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I think if anyone can teach SBW the position of centre would be Tana, and the fact hes playing in France away from the view of the leaguies and rugby knowitalls in NZ he can develop as a union player at his own pace.

PAPAKA79   #100   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

The NRL are the real dogs here mate... do you see players whos contracts have been terminated or that have been let go by the club crying foul and taking the NRL or clubs to court? Would the NRL back players up if they were to take legal action against the clubs for breaking their contracts like they are backing the dogs against SBW? I think not!See you in black at RWC '11, SBW !

Maddi   #99   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Of course but it'll take a while ae... he'll have to stop shoulder bargeing though. Good on him for leavin the Bulldogs, it them that are being selfish not him.I love rugby union and i only ever watched league if Sonny was playing. Good on ya Sonny.

Sola   #98   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

#50

"The guy is an idiot and has been poorly advised by the self proclaimed "the man". He talks like someone else is doing the talking for him. He didnt run away??....." Know him personally do you????

SBW, good on ya for leaving them. Take thier cr@p with a grain of salt..........sour Aussies are never pretty :)

Peter H.   #97   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Tana could make him the best centre the Rugby world has ever seen and I'm not even a league fan!

Blair   #96   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

The hardest tackler in both forms of the game, will be a huge asset for ABs in the midfield, cant imagine Berick Barns etc crashing it up into Sonny.

johnno   #95   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

If thats how SBW feels, than we should respect that we all have reason to do what we feel is right at some stage of our lives, and its about time someone stands up for the poly boys!! this just highlights how the NRL have treat present and passed players wether they be white ,green, black, or blue. In terms of switching to rugby yhea with alot of focus and th right people behind SBW we should be seening him in a 'Black' jersey very soon.

Isaac Adams   #94   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

SBW is in a league of his own. He has plenty of speed that will make most wingers look tired and size that makes a prop want to eat more burgers. This guy is going to be phenomenal center for our country and 'should' lead us to becoming World Cup Champions again.

Cant believe people are still bagging him, I just hope now he becomes the very best player ever to grace a black jersey and stick it to all his critics.

Mark Gilchrist   #93   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

This guy has got talent and with the right mentoring / coaching could become another Jonah

Damo   #92   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Dont blame you sbw. I truly beleive that you have moved into another stage in your journey of life. I beleive he has made the right decision for himself. He is Polynesian. He has the genes of his ancestors. You cant understand him from listening to his words. You can ,watching him play. He has done whats he's done. Tana is the draw card. Tana was a junior kiwi, played GB in two tests and was the stand out player. You have been able to see his league talents throughout his rugby career. Sonny would have an absolute immense amount of respect for Tana. SBW is true to his culture, he understands it, it gives him his ID, well before his standing in football. He will stand his ground in Toulon. He will be devastating, that will happen. Rugby League, especially the ones playing in the NRL, are gifted footballers. Union has change. Its the gam,e breaking plays that win games in union. Breaking the line plays, SBW will do this over and over, its what Tana was like in his playing style, break the line, feed and score. Good on him, Sad to see him leave the great game but man him in a AB jersey would be great. Earn the money bro fly your colours over there including the league flag. Fly it high for al to see and your in for a wicked ride over there. Kiakaha

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