NRL needs to open doors
August 8th 2008 08:51
Let him be - Sonny Bill should now be the least of the NRL's concerns
The Steve Folkes - Sonny Bill Williams rivalry has eventuated into a tussle not worth having.
If Williams ever wanted to be a Muslim, that is his choice. Folkes should have kept his comments within, in the process move on with a season that has now become reminiscent of failure and doubt.
Even though Folkes was harsh to comment on Williams’ personal life, the Bulldogs coach was nevertheless speaking his mind - a mind that yielded a premiership in 2004 and developed an aura of success and unity at a club bereft of peace.
What Folkes said to Williams’ however still does not give Sonny Bill the right to just walk out on a five year contract worth $450,000 a season.
If the Kiwi superstar signed on with the Bulldogs, Folkes was made to believe that Williams was indeed happy with his surroundings and was eager to be apart of a future that has yielded the signatures of Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant, Josh Morris and Brett Kimmorley for next season.
Folkes and the rest of the Bulldogs board were finally calm over the future of the NRL’s biggest drawcard.
Unfortunelty, the events that have transpired since have left both the Bulldogs and the NRL with a serious problem.
Although everything in the courts looks positive, I doubt David Gallop and co. will seize Williams’ participation with French club Toulon.
Rugby Union in France is growing in tremendous popularity throughout both Europe and the world.
I think they would have the power to uphold a Sydney court and wrestle their case for Williams not to play Union with relative ease.
The French, and Europe in particular, always find a way through these obstacles. They will do so again for Sonny Bill.
Instead of the NRL trying to fight a battle that will offer no victory for their part, David Gallop just needs time to think and sort out a problem that is now looking to derail everything that Rugby League holds dear.
When Gallop interviewed Phil Gould on Monday Night Football a couple of weeks ago, he said there was a four percent increase in attendances to NRL games.
He released that stat in the Bulldogs - Dragons game at ANZ stadium, which was as empty as Amy Winehouse’s conscience.
There is no doubt in most people’s minds that the NRL needs to relocate back to the fans.
Let the Wests Tigers play every game at Leichhardt Oval. Surely a profit will be made if 18,000 hearty souls appear every week to see their team play. Its far better than seeing 9,000 people in a coliseum bereft of atmosphere.
That is the one reason players of Williams’ calibre head to Europe. These players want to get noticed for the talent they possess.
Williams and co. must have felt sick playing in front of thousands of empty grandstands. Atmosphere at the highest level should be enough to generate a grand spectacle of football.
Why else do you think the Bulldogs upset Brisbane earlier this season?
The NRL should forget about Williams. His loss to the game has reignited the severe problems rugby league is facing.
Sonny Bill’s sudden defection is strike one for the NRL.
Europe will no doubt be keen to strike the NRL out ,unless Gallop and co find a way to please fans and ensure stability in a competition on the verge of collapse.
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