League: Sonny set to walk in Jonah's footsteps

SYDNEY - Sonny Bill Williams may one day become the marketing mirror image of Jonah Lomu with sponsors keen to use the prodigy as a promotional tool.

Williams, 19, is already on the screens in Australia promoting an energy drink alongside Australian cricketer Brett Lee and triathlete Loretta Harrop.

That could prove to be the tip of the iceberg as his management team consider a swag of endorsements for the second rower, who has huge appeal despite playing only 15 first-grade NRL games.

Sports apparel giant Nike are keen to negotiate a new contract and at least six other companies are said to be interested in using Williams, who is off contract at the NRL premiers at the end of this season.

Ideally manager Gavin Orr said Williams would join the Nike stable alongside tennis star Lleyton Hewitt, golfer Tiger Woods and cycling legend Lance Armstrong.
"We'd like to see him get to where Jonah Lomu was," Orr said. "In time, I think he can be on the same level, in terms of profile as [swimmer] Ian Thorpe."

Australian sports agent John Fordham believes Williams is so gifted, a football club would pay whatever he deems he is worth. "In a football sense, he is truly exceptional. He can pretty much name his own price."

- NZPA