League star Sonny Bill Williams has knocked back the All Blacks in deciding to stay with the Canterbury Bulldogs for a further two years.
The Bulldogs announced that the 19-year-old yesterday signed a deal believed to be worth A$800,000 ($868,300), much to the relief of club chief Malcolm Noad.
"It's
taken a long time, but anything worthwhile doesn't come easily," Noad said. "It's a tremendous thrill for the club that Sonny Bill has agreed to stay."
Williams, already a New Zealand international, hoped to become a life-time Bulldog.
"I have always insisted I wanted to stay at Canterbury, it was just a matter of time [that I signed]," he said.
"I had a shocker [with ankle injury and mumps] but that's over and done with. I am really looking forward to playing."
Williams is expected back from his ankle injury in six weeks.
Noad hoped that Williams' signature would fast-track the re-signing of off-contract stars Braith Anasta and Willie Mason.
"Sonny Bill is the third of our players off contract who we have signed to extended contracts," he said.
"Now we have got to balance the budget going forward, at least now we know what the budget is."
It was revealed that Williams' managers had discussions with the New Zealand Rugby Union two weeks ago about a possible switch in codes.
NZRFU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said the All Blacks had expressed interest in Williams, but denied making the initial approach.
"Sonny Bill Williams is obviously a talent and we thought it would be appropriate just to check and see if there was any interest or not," Tew was quoted by the Daily Telegraph in Sydney as saying.
"Sonny Bill does not need to build up his value, does he?
"If he was making a money decision he probably would be playing league in the United Kingdom now.
"The initial approach came from someone in the Sonny Bill camp to one of our coaches.
"I think they were just generally checking options and he was at the stage of his career where he wanted to think things through.
"Often things can change from the first call before you make the second call."
- NZPA
