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SONNY Bill Williams could be welcomed back into the open arms of the Bulldogs this weekend - almost seven years to the day after he slipped out the backdoor to play rugby in France.
As always, though, Sonny Bill has left the club guessing; his next move shrouded in mystery.
Despite his so-called "act of treachery" during those heady days of July 2008, the Bulldogs have invited the code-hopping star to their Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday night.
As of late Tuesday, the Bulldogs were still hopeful he would attend the 800-strong function at Le Montage.
They believed the enticement would be a seat next to Roosters chairman Nick Politis, who lured Williams back to the NRL in 2013-14 and is a friend of Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib.
But those close to the 29-year-old say he's gone cold on the idea, although there is still some hope he could be convinced to attend.
Complicating his return to the Bulldogs fold is the not-so-minor matter of the All Blacks, who he re-joined this year after two seasons with the Roosters.
Williams lit up Christchurch for New Zealand in their Rugby Championship opener against Argentina earlier this month - but coach Steve Hansen still dropped him for last weekend's thrilling win against South Africa in the Republic.
He is expected to fly out of Sydney on the day of the Bulldogs' function to rejoin the All Blacks in camp. New Zealand meets the Wallabies in Sydney for the first Bledisloe Cup match on August 8, but it remains uncertain if he will be picked in the starting side or at all.
Regardless of his attendance, Sonny Bill is in strong contention to be named in the Bulldogs team of the decade, which will also be announced at Saturday night's function.
He is vying for a second row position with Willie Mason, Frank Pritchard, Andrew Ryan, Tony Williams, Dale Finucane, Dene Halatau and Josh Jackson.
That Williams has even been invited seven years after one of the most tumultuous episodes in the family club's history demonstrates that most wounds eventually heal, even in rugby league.
Those wounds have been gently prised open this week with the release of journalist Paul Kent's unauthorised book Sonny Ball.
The book is unauthorised and focuses on the "the real story" around one of sport's most intriguing and polemic figures.
Williams is said to be angry about its release, although Kent gave him a right of reply through his manager, Khoder Nasser, who denied the request.
Understandably, many words are invested on the Saturday morning of July 26, 2008, when Williams and Nasser were spotted going through customs at Sydney Airport before boarding a plane for France, where he took up a lucrative deal with rugby powerhouse Toulon.
At the time, the clandestine code defection was branded a "dog act". Then Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan and coach Steve Folkes were stunned at training the next day. Then chief executive Todd Greenberg - who is now the head of football at the NRL - had only been in the job six months when Williams left.
While Williams has mended some bridges over the years, and many grudges at Belmore have melted away with time, he would come face to face with some figures from that turbulent period if he attends.
Will he be there? Or not? As usual, only Sonny Bill really knows.
http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/so...-bulldogs-guessing-again-20150728-gilyr4.html
As always, though, Sonny Bill has left the club guessing; his next move shrouded in mystery.
Despite his so-called "act of treachery" during those heady days of July 2008, the Bulldogs have invited the code-hopping star to their Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday night.
As of late Tuesday, the Bulldogs were still hopeful he would attend the 800-strong function at Le Montage.
They believed the enticement would be a seat next to Roosters chairman Nick Politis, who lured Williams back to the NRL in 2013-14 and is a friend of Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib.
But those close to the 29-year-old say he's gone cold on the idea, although there is still some hope he could be convinced to attend.
Complicating his return to the Bulldogs fold is the not-so-minor matter of the All Blacks, who he re-joined this year after two seasons with the Roosters.
Williams lit up Christchurch for New Zealand in their Rugby Championship opener against Argentina earlier this month - but coach Steve Hansen still dropped him for last weekend's thrilling win against South Africa in the Republic.
He is expected to fly out of Sydney on the day of the Bulldogs' function to rejoin the All Blacks in camp. New Zealand meets the Wallabies in Sydney for the first Bledisloe Cup match on August 8, but it remains uncertain if he will be picked in the starting side or at all.
Regardless of his attendance, Sonny Bill is in strong contention to be named in the Bulldogs team of the decade, which will also be announced at Saturday night's function.
He is vying for a second row position with Willie Mason, Frank Pritchard, Andrew Ryan, Tony Williams, Dale Finucane, Dene Halatau and Josh Jackson.
That Williams has even been invited seven years after one of the most tumultuous episodes in the family club's history demonstrates that most wounds eventually heal, even in rugby league.
Those wounds have been gently prised open this week with the release of journalist Paul Kent's unauthorised book Sonny Ball.
The book is unauthorised and focuses on the "the real story" around one of sport's most intriguing and polemic figures.
Williams is said to be angry about its release, although Kent gave him a right of reply through his manager, Khoder Nasser, who denied the request.
Understandably, many words are invested on the Saturday morning of July 26, 2008, when Williams and Nasser were spotted going through customs at Sydney Airport before boarding a plane for France, where he took up a lucrative deal with rugby powerhouse Toulon.
At the time, the clandestine code defection was branded a "dog act". Then Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan and coach Steve Folkes were stunned at training the next day. Then chief executive Todd Greenberg - who is now the head of football at the NRL - had only been in the job six months when Williams left.
While Williams has mended some bridges over the years, and many grudges at Belmore have melted away with time, he would come face to face with some figures from that turbulent period if he attends.
Will he be there? Or not? As usual, only Sonny Bill really knows.
http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/so...-bulldogs-guessing-again-20150728-gilyr4.html
