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SYDNEY - National Rugby League (NRL) boss David Gallop demanded the International Rugby Board (IRB) block Sonny Bill Williams from switching codes as the shockwaves continued from his sudden departure to France.
The Kiwis and Bulldogs star, 22, boarded a plane in Sydney on Saturday and hasn't been heard from since.
His manager, Khoder Nasser, telephoned Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg to confirm Williams had "had enough" and left the country to pursue a rugby deal with an unnamed French club.
Reports linked Williams with the Tana Umaga-coached Toulon, and a two-year deal worth A$3 million ($3.9 million), although Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal denied any deal had been signed.
Greenberg, Gallop, Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes and the Bulldogs players were among those fuming at Williams' sudden departure, a year into his five-year contract with the Sydney club.
A big legal battle looms, with Gallop saying the NRL would assist the Bulldogs to try and prevent Williams plying his trade elsewhere, having signed the reported A$450,000-per-year deal last year.
"It flies in the face of everything that kids are taught about team sport, and that's the most disappointing aspect of it," Gallop told Channel Nine.
"Certainly we'll be supporting the Bulldogs in pursuing every legal option that they've got to ensure he plays under the contract he's got.
"We'll also be calling on the IRB to step in and get involved.
"This can't be good for either of the codes. Contractual stability is important to both, and if they don't get involved then they're condoning a form of international piracy."
Gallop said he was shocked by the news, having met with Williams recently to discuss his desire to be a positive role model for Polynesian league players.
"Something's changed, he's obviously troubled. You don't just walk out without notice unless you're very troubled in my view."
Williams was reportedly tired of the intense media scrutiny of being a star NRL player and unhappy with the direction the Bulldogs were heading.
A stunned Greenberg spoke of seeing Williams at 7.30am on Saturday then being contacted by Nasser later that afternoon to confirm his departure.
"The club feels incredibly let down, we did invest in him as a 16-year-old, we did sign him to a five-year deal. We have worked incredibly hard with him on and off the field.
"For him to walk out like this with no phone call, no explanation and to let his teammates down a day before a game is incredibly disappointing. "
Greenberg labelled it a big test case for rugby league and sport in general, about honouring contracts.
"If he's not playing football with the Bulldogs, he won't be playing football, full stop. "
The Bulldogs arrived for training yesterday, knowing their best player had walked out two days before their game against St George Illawarra.
Folkes said the club had been kind to Williams since he joined from Auckland as a 16-year-old.
"Sonny's let a lot of people down and I think it's a decision he's going to regret in the long run. We're extremely disappointed, it's a little bit unbelievable.
"He certainly wanted to be a spokesman for the Polynesian community. He's walked away from the Polynesian guys here and won't be playing in the tests for New Zealand either."
Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan said the players' anger was clear.
"To leave us with seven weeks to go in the competition and we're busting our butts at training and games, is very hard to swallow."
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS CONTRACT TIMELINE
March 2007 - Ends protracted negotiations by signing five-year deal with Bulldogs which is due to expire after the 2012 NRL season.
April 2007 - Involved in infamous toilet cubicle tryst with ironwoman Candice Falzon which is captured by another patron at the Clovelly Hotel.
June 2007 - Caught and fined by police for urinating on a wall in side street near a Cronulla nightclub. Admits to an alcohol problem.
March 2008 - Reportedly dumps long-time manager Gavin Orr to link up with Khoder Nasser.
March 2008 - Reveals he has lost respect for former teammate Willie Mason after Mason's decision to quit the Bulldogs to join the Sydney Roosters. Williams claims Mason's talk of loyalty had been a big factor in his decision to re-sign with the club the previous year.
May 1 2008 - Says he would seriously contemplate switching to rugby union and chase dual international status if the All Blacks offered him enough money.
May 18 2008 - Reportedly seeks a release from the Bulldogs, but the NRL club says he will be expected to see out the remaining years of his contract.
June 2008 - First sign of reports linking him with a move to Toulon, where former All Black Tana Umaga is the coach.
June 2008 - Khoder Nasser meets with Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg, accompanied by not Williams, but two boxers in his stable, Anthony Mundine and Soloman Haumono. The next day Williams declares he is happy to remain at the club.
July 26 2008 - Williams reportedly flees the country headed for France to take up a two-year deal worth an estimated $3 million to switch codes and play rugby union for Toulon in the French first division.
- NZPA
