Bulldogs hopeful of luring back SBW

Sonny Bill Williams. Photograph by Christine Cornege.

Sonny Bill Williams could be heading back to the Bulldogs - for one weekend, at least.

Almost seven years after walking out on the NRL club to make an initial code-switch to rugby, Williams has been invited to the Bulldogs' Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday night.

With the All Blacks inactive as the Rugby Championship pauses for breath, the Sydney Morning Herald reported the Bulldogs were hopeful their former favourite son would attend the 800-strong function.

But Williams remained unwilling to confirm his participation at the event, where he was a strong contender to be named in the Bulldogs' team of the decade. The SMH suggested the 29-year-old had gone cold on the idea, reluctant to disrupt his preparation for the All Blacks' Rugby Championship decider against the Wallabies next weekend.

Williams, along with Dan Carter, was rested from the team's trip to South Africa after playing a starring role in the tournament-opening win over Argentina. If the code-hopper makes the trip to the Bulldogs' Hall of Fame evening, he would be expected to fly out of Sydney following the function and return to All Blacks camp.

Even the invite is something of an olive branch after the events of 2008, when Williams was accused of an "act of treachery" after abandoning the Bulldogs to take up a big-money deal with French rugby side Toulon.

It was a move that eventually led Williams to the black jersey and, after returning to league to spend two seasons at the Sydney Roosters, the midfielder should play a part in a second Rugby World Cup later in the year.